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Uphill charge no match for Perlmutter landslide

The Rocky

Published November 4, 2008 at 11:44 p.m.

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John Lerew and Ed Perlmutter.

John Lerew and Ed Perlmutter.

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Freshman Congressman Ed Perlmutter did what he was expected to do - coast to re-election with ease.

Perlmutter overwhelmed his GOP rival, John Lerew, by a 2-1 ratio, winning a second term in the 7th Congressional District, where Democrats now hold an advantage in registered voters.

"It feels great," Perlmutter said of his landslide victory and wins by Barack Obama and Mark Udall. "It's a great day for America. It's a great day for our nation."

Lerew, who could not be reached for comment, had said his candidacy was an uphill battle. The political newcomer had little name recognition outside Arapahoe County and limited money to mount a serious congressional bid.

He received little support from the state and national Republican Party, which instead pumped tens of thousands of dollars into defending incumbent seats in more competitive races.

"Lerew is a well-spoken guy, but his party never targeted the race," said Eric Sondermann, a Denver political consultant. "They never raised money for him. They treated the race as an afterthought."

In his first re-election bid, Perlmutter's seat was considered safe enough for him to focus attention on helping Obama, in his presidential bid, and Udall, in his bare- knuckle race for U.S. Senate.

Perlmutter said the Democratic-controlled Congress' first order of business will be to work with Obama's transition team to address the financial crisis and craft key legislation on energy, health care and education.