August 21, 2014 08:30 AM UTC

Throwback Thursday: Mike Coffman Hearts Marilyn Musgrave

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• by: Colorado Pols

Former Rep. Marilyn Musgrave doesn’t get a lot of press anymore, but back in 2006, Musgrave was Colorado’s foremost culture warrior in Congress. From abortion to the dreaded gays, no wedge issue was too divisive for Musgrave to not champion from her (relatively) safe Republican CD-4 seat in Congress. In the last great Democratic wave election of 2008, Musgrave was toppled by Democrat Betsy Markey largely on the argument that Musgrave was too focused on wedge issues to effectively represent her constituents on issues that matter.

But in 2006, when this picture was taken, Musgrave was still a star–and then-Treasurer Mike Coffman, at the time running for Secretary of State, was a doting groupie (right).

Those were the days, folks.