DENVER (AP) – Rep. Marilyn Musgrave has been rated one of the 10 most vulnerable Republican representatives in the country by her own party, even though she has a heavily GOP district.

She’s one of two Colorado Republicans on the list, along with Rep. Bob Beauprez of Arvada.

Democrats have not put out their list, but when they do, Rep. John Salazar of Manassa is likely to be on it.

The endangered list is intended to highlight vulnerable incumbents, help them raise money early in the election cycle and frighten off potential challengers.

Democrats say that while Musgrave, of Fort Morgan, has gained a national profile pushing a constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage, she has lost touch with the day-to-day concerns of her constituents in northern Colorado and the Eastern Plains.

“She apparently thinks the most important issue is whether gays and lesbians can get married,” said Colorado Democratic chair Chris Gates. “I think people in her district are more concerned about jobs, healthcare, education and roads.”

Musgrave aides did not respond to requests for comment about the endangered list, more formally called the Retain Our Majority Program carried out by the political action committee of House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, R-Texas.

Musgrave won her last election narrowly, with 51 percent of the vote. Democrat Stan Matsunaka got 45 percent, while Green Party candidate Bob Kinsey got 4 percent. In 2000, the last election for which figures are available, President Bush won her district with 57 percent of the vote.

The narrowness of her win surprised many observers. She was not on the Top 10 list for the 2004 election, although Beauprez was, and she was not targeted by national Democrats.

She was attacked by a so-called 527 committee. The group, funded by three wealthy left-of-center advocates, paid for negative television advertisements featuring a Musgrave impersonator filching from a corpse and pick pocketing a soldier in combat.

Carl Forti of the National Republican Congressional Committee said it was “a little surprising” that Musgrave would be deemed endangered by her own party.

“But given the margin, who knows if this 527 group is going to target her with millions of dollars again,” Forti said.

Gates said potential challengers for Musgrave include Matsunaka, who has lost to Musgrave twice, former state Sen. Peggy Reeves of Fort Collins and state Sen. Bob Bacon of Fort Collins.

Beauprez’s 7th District in the northern Denver suburbs was drawn to be one of the most competitive in the nation.

Beauprez beat Democrat Dave Thomas soundly in November with 55 percent of the vote, but in 2002, his 121-vote squeaker was the closest race in the country.

“The 7th District is competitive by its nature, regardless of who holds the seat,” said Beauprez spokesperson Jordan Stoick.