Colorado Republicans may be looking at some big losses next Tuesday, as the races for president, U.S. Senate and the 4th Congressional District are all trending towards Democrats replacing Republicans.

But while polls indicate Democrat Mark Udall will easily beat Republican Bob Schaffer, the presidential race and --especially -- the 4th Congressional District will likely be fairly close.

Meanwhile, Colorado's six other congressional races aren't likely to be competitive.

PRESIDENT

Candidates:

• John McCain (Republican): U.S. senator from Arizona
• Barack Obama (Democratic): U.S. senator from Illinois

Overview: There are 16 candidates on the Colorado presidential ballot this year, but political pundits have long been focused on how Obama and McCain will fare in the state. Once upon a time, Colorado was seen as the presidential battleground state, and many predicted a neck-and-neck race between McCain and Obama through Election Day.

But the economic crisis has pushed Obama ahead in the polls, both in Colorado and in other swing states. Other factors are at work, as well. Though Republicans' ground game is well-organized, they can't compete with the Obama campaign's immense financial resources. Obama has 51 field offices in Colorado; McCain has 12.

McCain's choice of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as his running mate initially caused an excitement spike among conservatives, but as time as passed, she's turned off moderates. And McCain's comments in August about renegotiating the Colorado River Compact won him no friends on the Western Slope, even if Democrats were slow in exploiting the gaffe.

An Obama victory is likely, but it's not a sure thing - many state Republicans still say McCain could pull off a win here if GOP turnout is high, and Obama's appearance in Pueblo during the final days before the election shows his campaign isn't 100 percent sure that Colorado will vote for a Democratic presidential nominee for only the third time since 1948.

What to look for: If Hispanic and unaffiliated voters continue to break Obama's way. If Obama can win over these groups the way polls indicate he has been, he'll win Colorado. It's also worth looking at El Paso County: Republicans need a huge turnout there to win Colorado, but Obama's campaign has been trying to make inroads into the traditionally Republican area.

U.S. SENATE

OPEN SEAT: U.S. Sen. Wayne Allard (R-Loveland) has declined to seek re-election

Candidates:

• Douglas "Dayhorse" Campbell (American Constitution): financial, political and legal consultant from Arvada
• Bob Kinsey (Green): 2004 4th Congressional District Green Party candidate
• Bob Schaffer (Republican): former U.S. representative from Fort Collins
• Mark Udall (Democratic): U.S. representative from Eldorado Springs

Overview: Most polls during the last month show Udall winning by double-digits. Both the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee and the National Republican Senatorial Committee have canceled their ad buys and pulled out of the race - presumably . Schaffer and his campaign committed some gaffes early on - such as touting the Northern Marianas Islands' guest worker program as a "model" for the rest of the country, and pulling his first TV ad for mistakenly showing a picture of Mount McKinley instead of Pikes Peak, but the issue of rising gas prices kept Schaffer in the race throughout the summer.  The recent economic crisis caused Schaffer's poll numbers to plummet. Udall hasn't made any major mistakes, though in the last few debates he's looked laid back - even somnambulant - as Schaffer took to the offensive against him.

What to look for: A Udall victory. Even some Colorado Republicans are privately preparing for a double-digit loss.

1st CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT

Incumbent: U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette (D-Denver)

Candidates:

• Martin Buchanan (Libertarian): U.S. Army veteran and political activist from Denver
• Diana DeGette (Democratic): U.S. representative from Denver
• George Lilly (Republican): 2004 1st Congressional District American Constitution Party candidate from Denver

Overview: Lilly, a vocal supporter of libertarian Republican Ron Paul, has reveled in being a party iconoclast, speaking out against the GOP "establishment." He has little name recognition and even less money. Neither he nor Buchanan should pose any threat to DeGette's re-election chances. 

What to look for: A sizable DeGette victory.

2nd CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT

OPEN SEAT: U.S. Rep. Mark Udall (D-Eldorado Springs) is running for U.S. Senate

Candidates:

• J.A. Calhoun (Green): railway worker and documentary filmmaker from Empire
• Bill Hammons (Unity): former former rights and permissions manager at Newsweek magazine
• Jared Polis (Democratic): internet entrepreneur from Boulder
• Scott Starin (Republican): aerospace engineer from Lafayette

Overview: In a heavily Democratic district, Polis will easily cruise to victory. Polis survived a tough three-way Democratic primary earlier this year, thanks in part to a barrage of television ads. But it's not so much Polis' name recognition that will win this race for him as the "D" next to his name on the ballot.

What to look for: The size of Polis' landslide victory.

3rd CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT

Incumbent: U.S. Rep. John Salazar (D-Manassa)

Candidates:

• John Salazar (Democratic): U.S. representative from Manassa
• Wayne Wolf (Republican): Delta County commissioner from Cedaredge

Overview: Wolf is running a shoestring campaign against Salazar and has complained that promised support from the state GOP and the National Republican Congressional Committee never materialized. Salazar has a big war chest, but he hasn't had to use it against Wolf's insignificant campaign.

What to look for: If Salazar runs again in 2010 - rumors say he's not interested in staying in Congress after this next term. If those rumors prove true, it could give Republicans a good opportunity to take the seat back.

4th CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT

Incumbent: U.S. Rep. Marilyn Musgrave (R-Fort Morgan)

Candidates:

• Betsy Markey (Democratic): former Larimer County Democratic Party Chair from Fort Collins
• Marilyn Musgrave (Republican): U.S. representative from Fort Morgan

Overview: The only competitive U.S. House race in Colorado - and one of the most competitive in the nation - is essentially a referendum on Musgrave. Most political pundits give Markey a slight edge for a variety of factors, including the lack of the third-party candidate in the race this year, that Democrats and independent groups are pumping in millions of dollars against Musgrave, and that it's a tough year for Republicans in general. The inclusion of Musgrave on an internal GOP "death  list" and the National Republican Congressional Committee pulling out of the race two weeks ago provide signs that Musgrave's in trouble: internal polling from both campaigns shows the race even at best for her.

But it would be foolish to automatically write off Musgrave, who has survived tough elections before and has a significant base of supporters. As no non-partisan public polls have been conducted about the race since late August, it remains to be seen how effective Musgrave's repeated attacks on Markey's business dealings have been.

What to look for: How things go in Weld County. In 2006, Musgrave won Weld County - which has the second-most registered voters of any county in the district - with 48 percent of the vote. But this year, Markey's looking to pick off a number of those votes. Markey doesn't have to win a majority in Weld County, but a poor performance by her there could make the difference for Musgrave. Also worth watching is the extent to which Barack Obama's candidacy brings out votes for Markey.

5th CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT

Incumbent: U.S. Rep. Doug Lamborn (R-Colorado Springs)

Candidates:

• Hal Bidlack (Democratic): retired Air Force Lt. Colonel from Colorado Springs
• Doug Lamborn (Republican): U.S. representative from Colorado Springs
• Brian Scott (American Constitution): U.S. army veteran and small business owner from Colorado Springs

Overview: In a district that's been solidly Republican since it was created in 1972, it's never a good year to be a Democrat. Lamborn has his detractors - from both within and outside of his party - but his surprisingly easy victory in contentious three-way Republican primary this August shows he's doing something right. Bidlack's fundraising prowess has set records for a Democrat, but his campaign against Lamborn has been fairly lackluster.

What to look for: A Lamborn/Bidlack rematch in 2010? Will Lamborn get primaried again in two years?

6th CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT

OPEN SEAT: U.S. Rep. Tom Tancredo (R-Littleton) has declined to seek re-election

Candidates:

• Mike Coffman (Republican): Colorado Secretary of State from Aurora
• Hank Eng (Democratic): former Appleton, Wis. City Council member from unincorporated Arapahoe County.

Overview: With 60 percent more registered Republicans in the district than Democrats, any Democrat would face an uphill battle. It doesn't help that Eng is a political unknown: he's only lived in Colorado three years, has never run for elective office in Colorado before, has no national party support, and only started running television ads - cable-only - during the final two weeks of the campaign.  On the other hand, Coffman's name ID is high thanks to his Secretary of State position and months of TV ads during a four-way GOP primary this summer. Even U.S. Sen. Ken Salazar (D-Denver) has told Coffman, "Welcome to the delegation."

What to look for: Coffman to hold onto the 6th Congressional District seat for as long as he wants it.

7th CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT

Incumbent: U.S. Rep. Ed Perlmutter (D-Golden)

Candidates:

• John Lerew (Republican): financial planner from Aurora
• Ed Perlmutter: U.S. representative from Golden

Overview: Perlmutter's a first-term Congressman in a district that was previously held by Republican Bob Beauprez, so many have been surprised that the Republicans didn't run a stronger candidate against him this year. Lerew has been a great sport about taking on Perlmutter with little name ID and even less help from his party. But even his supporters have put up signs asking "John Who?"

What to look for: A solid win by Perlmutter that will make it even harder for Republicans to unseat him in 2010.