Rep. Doug Lamborn, facing a potentially tough 5th district Republican primary challenge from 2006 candidates Jeff Crank and Bentley Rayburn, has once again been endorsed by the Club for Growth.

The Club for Growth, a conservative advocacy group, backed Lamborn in the previous cycle, and in the process helped him narrowly defeat Crank and Rayburn — among other candidates — in the 2006 primary.

Lamborn’s weak fundraising thus far suggests that the Club for Growth’s endorsement could play a key role in whether he is able to hold onto his seat in the Aug. 12 GOP primary. Lamborn had just $145,000 in the bank as of Dec. 31, while still carrying campaign debt of $60,000.

Crank closed 2007 with $95,000 on hand and $57,000 in debt. Rayburn did not enter the race until earlier this year, and did not file a Federal Election Commission report for the fourth quarter of 2007. He recently picked up endorsements from former Reps. Scott McInnis (R-Colo.) and Steve Largent (R-Okla.).
— David M. Drucker