Republican House candidate Jeff Shaw's mother survived breast cancer, his father prostate cancer and his sister years ago was diagnosed with juvenile diabetes.

So Shaw was livid when a Democratic political group claimed he wants to cut coverage for mammograms and other medical tests.

"Not only is this accusation a flat- out lie, but it touches close to home," said Shaw, a Pueblo West attorney.

Other Republican House candidates, including Matt Dunn, a Greenwood Village dentist, have been targeted by the same political group on the medical testing issue.

"Yes, I hear I'm for breast cancer," Dunn said facetiously.

The attacks are from Main Street Colorado, the group formed to help House Democrats keep their 35-30 majority.

House Majority Leader Alice Madden, D-Boulder, said it is important for voters to remember that when Republicans controlled the legislature, they passed a bill that exempts insurance companies from having to cover mammograms and prostate screenings.

"I'm really glad that Jeff Shaw's parents were able to get (screenings), but I think everyone deserves to be able to have those tests," Madden said. "Does Jeff Shaw believe that?"

She conceded the mailing against Shaw contained an error, incorrectly stating Colorado law requires insurance companies to pay for the screenings.

Republicans denounced the attacks.

Alan Philp, director of the Trailhead Group - founded in part by GOP Gov. Bill Owens - called the ads and mailings "over the top" and a "new low" in Colorado politics.

"This is truly sickening," Philp said. "Do they really think that this is just par for the course for political debate?"

The Trailhead Group and Main Street Colorado are 527s, named for the section of the federal tax code that allows the political groups to operate with few rules and no campain donation limits. Such groups are responsible for most of the attacks in campaigns.

Madden believes it is Trailhead that hit the new lows in Colorado, particularly in attacks against Shaw's opponent, Rep. Buffie McFadyen, D-Pueblo West.

She said if Shaw is truly concerned about the need for the kind of medical tests that saved his parents' lives, he would "renounce" Owens, for signing the insurance bill into law in 2003; Trailhead, for accepting money from insurance companies; and GOP gubernatorial candidate Bob Beauprez, who has said he opposes mandates.

But Philp said he couldn't believe that Democrats are "making the leap" that because Trailhead receives money from insurance companies, the candidates it backs are opposed to mammograms.

He also pointed out that Shaw, Dunn and some other GOP contenders under fire weren't even in the legislature when the screenings bill was passed.

Republican Ramey Johnson, of Lakewood, served then and voted for the bill ending mandatory coverage of mammograms and such.

Johnson, who lost her 2004 race and is trying to get her seat back, said she supported the bill because she opposes mandates.