November 09, 2008 06:54 PM UTC

Musgrave Remains In Hiding Post-Defeat

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• by: Colorado Pols

You can understand a day or two, but now it’s just getting weird–as the Denver Post reports:

Bitterness generated by the bruising battle between Betsy Markey and Marilyn Musgrave apparently lingers days after voters decided the winner of the 4th Congressional District.

Incumbent Republican Musgrave, who lost to Democrat Markey by a 56 to 44 percent margin Tuesday, has yet to call and congratulate Markey on her win.

Musgrave also hasn’t conceded the race, said Markey spokesman Ben Marter. “She has yet to admit defeat,” he said. “It’s a little bizarre.”

Calls to Musgrave’s campaign and congressional office went unanswered Friday…

Not congratulating a political opponent has certainly happened in the past, but it’s also “not the norm,” said Bob Duffy, chairman of the Colorado State University political science department.

“There is no doubt that someone in that campaign is not happy about losing,” said Duffy.

The tenor of Musgrave’s always-shrill campaigns suggested she took them personally, but at the end of the day it’s just business. Bob Beauprez went down much harder and was talking to the press the next day. For the sake of any viable political future she may hope to have, it’s probably time to ease off on the pity party, step out on the farmhouse porch and take a few questions. A token gesture or two to help your erstwhile opponent’s transition also wouldn’t hurt.

On the other hand, maybe Musgrave will ransack the DC office, burn the files, and cut all the phone lines. Not the greatest career move, but it sure feels good.