[img_assist|nid=1119|title=Bidlack talking to supporters|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=200|height=269]COLORADO SPRINGS- Retired Air Force Lt. Col. Hal Bidlack opened his congressional campaign office in Colorado Springs on Thursday, telling supporters he plans to be the first Democrat ever elected in the heavily conservative 5th Congressional District.

"With a lot of hard work, with a lot of hours and asking a lot of people for help financially, helping in the office, we can actually really startle this country, and end the 30-year pattern of never electing a Democrat in CD-5," Bidlack said outside his office, a house south of downtown Colorado Springs. "I think that I may be that guy."

Bidlack is running unopposed for the CD-5 Democratic nomination; meanwhile, a contentious three-way race shaping up in the CD-5 GOP primary between incumbent U.S. Rep. Doug Lamborn, businessman Jeff Crank, and retired Air Force General Bentley Rayburn.

To win, Bidlack will have to improve on 2006 CD-5 Democratic nominee Jay Fawcett's performance; Lamborn beat Fawcett in 2006 by 19 percentage points. No Democrat has won a CD-5 election since the district was created in 1972.

Fawcett lauded Bidlack at Thursday's office opening, saying Bidlack is a stark contrast to Lamborn, who "feels he only represents the Republicans" in his district.

"You go to Congress, you represent everyone in the community. And this is a man who understands that," Fawcett said, motioning at Bidlack.

Bidlack was a little more conciliatory, saying, "Doug Lamborn is not a bad man -- I think he's just wrong about pretty much everything he believes."

But, he added, "If you look at the last seven years, and you say, ‘You know, gas prices are where I want them to be, foreclosures are where I want them to be, the economy is where I want it to be, the war in Iraq is where I want it to be - all those things are going well,' well, you've got a man at the top of the Republican ticket (John McCain) who said he'd do four more years (of President Bush), and you've got Doug Lamborn, who probably votes about 99.3 percent of the time, voting with the Republican leadership wishes. It's a pretty clear choice."

If elected, Bidlack said he'd focus on protecting civil liberties and reducing government spending - except for veterans' care, for which he would increase funding.

Bidlack admitted it's "going to be a tough race." But, he added, "I think it's time that we remind people here that there are two parties and we return two-party government to El Paso County and the rest of CD-5."