Editors note: This is the Journals weekly roundup of campaign news.
The race for the 3rd Congressional District took to the television airwaves this week.
Democrat Sal Pace was first on air with a positive spot that shows him and his wife getting their three young children ready for the day.
I know what Colorado families are going through, because were going through it too, Pace says in the ad. There should be a place in Congress for people like you and me.
The ad does not mention incumbent Rep. Scott Tipton, R-Cortez.
Republicans, meanwhile, used this weeks Democratic National Convention in an attempt to tie Pace to President Barack Obama and his health care bill, as well as the sluggish economy.
Americans arent better off than they were four years ago, but Sal Pace wants to continue the same failed policies that are hurting our economy and crushing jobs, said Daniel Scarpinato, spokesman for the National Republican Congressional Committee, in a prepared statement.
Marijuana amendment winning: By a 47 percent to 38 percent margin, Coloradans favor Amendment 64, which would legalize possession of small amounts of marijuana.
Public Policy Polling found the results in a survey of 1,001 likely voters from August 31 to Sept. 2. The margin of error was plus or minus 3.1 percent.
Obama lead narrows: The same PPP survey also found Obama leading Mitt Romney 49 percent to 46 percent in Colorado. However, this is a much more narrow lead than the firms previous surveys of Colorado, and The New York Times pollster ratings have found that PPP tends to return results more favorable for Obama than other firms.
Ryan returns: Republican vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan stumped in Colorado Springs on Thursday, his second visit to Colorado since joining Romneys ticket.
We are not going to spend the next four years blaming people from the last four years, Ryan said. Were going to take responsibility and get the job done, reach across the aisle and fix this problem, get people back to work, create jobs, growth.
Candidates debate: Today (Saturday) in Grand Junction, Club 20 puts on the political event of the season with a day full of debates. State Rep. J. Paul Brown, R-Ignacio, will take on Democratic challenger Mike McLachlan in the morning. Tipton, Pace and unaffiliated candidate Tisha Casida face off in the headline bout.
Countdown: 59 days until the November election. First ballots are mailed to overseas military voters in 14 yes, 14 days.
joeh@cortezjournal.com