Former U.S. Rep. Bob Schaffer wrote a fantastic piece for the Fort Collins Coloradoan about what awaits U.S. Rep.-elect Cory Gardner when he makes his way to Washington to represent Colorado’s 4th Congressional District. [Above is an interview with Gardner a month ago by Michael Sandoval of National Review Online.]

Schaffer, a Republican, knows that district well, having been its representative from 1997 to 2003, succeeded by Republican Marilyn Musgrave for three terms, then Democrat Betsy Markey for one and now Gardner, a Republican. Schaffer’s entire article is worth reading, but the last paragraph is particularly provocative…

Gov. John Hickenlooper, despite his pretensions for being bipartisan, will devote enormous resources and energy to gerrymandering the 4th Congressional District (based upon the 2010 Census) by pulling half of Boulder County into the new district — possibly even drawing Yuma (Gardner’s home) out of it. Gardner will need to “lawyer up” to survive this part of the campaign, too.