In a stunning turnaround, U.S. Rep. Marilyn Musgrave said this week that the war in Iraq is going badly.

Her remarks, to the Fort Collins Coloradoan, immediately drew sharp rebukes from Democrats trying to unseat her in 2008.

They said the Fort Morgan Republican, up until now one of President Bush's strongest allies on the war, is changing her tune to shore up support from unhappy voters in the 4th Congressional District.

"I'm discouraged," Musgrave said in a meeting with the Coloradoan editorial board. "I do hope we will hear good things from Gen. (David) Petraeus about the troop surge and what it has done, but I am discouraged."

The three Democrats running in the 4th CD - Angie Paccione, Eric Eidsness and Betsy Markey - ripped Musgrave Thursday, saying her comments reflect her fear of being unseated next year.

"It's all part of the new window dressing," Paccione said. "She may end up losing her base with all of her flip flops."

Guy Short, Musgrave's chief of staff, said the congresswoman's comments don't reflect concerns about next year's election, but rather the situation in Iraq.

"She has certainly said she wants to bring the troops home as soon as possible, but she doesn't want to leave until the job is done," Short said.

Eidsness, a Vietnam War veteran, has long been critical of Musgrave's position on the Iraq war. He said he wrote Musgrave in February 2003 prior to the invasion, "imploring her to show independence and courage."

"She replied with a list of justifications right out of the Wolfowitz/Rumsfeld/Cheney talking points," he said.

Markey told the Colorodoan that apparently Musgrave has "read the polls and she knows the war is widely unpopular. I think this shows she is realizing she is endangered coming into next year."

bartels@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-5327