Freshman U.S. Representative Betsy Markey, the Democrat who ousted Marilyn Musgrave in a bitter election battle last year, seems to be sending a clear warning message to any would-be competitors: Back off unless you're flush with cash. Markey, who represents the massive Fourth Congressional District, had raised $342,000 through March 31--her first three months in office--eclipsing a record ($263,900) set in 2007 by fellow Democratic Representative Ed Perlmutter, reports The Denver Post. Kyle Saunders, a political science professor at CSU, tells the Fort Collins Coloradoan that "the more money Markey can raise prior to the contest actually being joined, the stronger the signal will be to potential competitors that this will be a difficult seat to recapture for the Republicans."