October 17, 2008 06:31 PM UTC

NRSC Colorado Pullout Confirmed

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• by: Colorado Pols

We told you two days ago that the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) would shortly exit the Colorado Senate race, citing dwindling cash reserves, candidate Bob Schaffer’s plummeting poll numbers, and unexpectedly strong threats to incumbent GOP Senators around the country. The late-game pullout of national party support is a bellwether recognition that a race is considered unwinnable, and scarce resources are better used elsewhere.

Confirmed this morning by Atlantic Online:

Republican sources in Colorado and Washington say that the National Republican Senatorial Committee plans to pull out of the state by next week, an acknowledgment that its independent expenditure resources would be better spent on defense elsewhere.

Earlier this week, the NRSC withdrew its advertising from the Louisiana Senate race.

The NRSC is still helping Roger Wicker in Mississippi and incumbents Norm Coleman in Minnesota, John Sununu in New Hampshire.

AN NRSC spokesperson said that advertising decisions are made on a week-to-week basis and declined to comment further…

Per usual you heard it here first, it’s a done deal–and by the GOP’s own reckoning, so is the Colorado Senate race.

UPDATE: The Atlantic’s Marc Ambinder says the NRSC is disputing his report:

“We have seen the race in Louisiana close dramatically over the past week so the strategy for this race is being re-evaluated,” NRSC communications director Rebecca Fisher said. “According to publicly available information we have placed a buy for next week.”

Fisher also disputes my report this morning that the NRSC plans to drawn down its advertising in Colorado, although other GOP officials insist that Republican Bob Schaffer’s campaign is planning to make do without NRSC help. [Pols emphasis]

Bottom line: Like we said earlier this week, the NRSC understands the stigma associated with its decisions, and won’t confirm any moves of this kind until they are no longer able to conceal them. Barring some change of circumstances on the ground we have yet to see evidence of, the NRSC will pull out of Colorado as previously reported.