Bentley Rayburn officially launched his campaign Thursday to unseat a fellow Republican, Congressman Doug Lamborn, by touting himself as “best positioned to reunite this party.”

Rayburn, who finished third in last year’s primary for what was then an open seat, becomes the second challenger in the 2008 race, joining 2006 primary runner-up Jeff Crank. Lamborn has not made his re-election bid official, but he’s raising money.

Rayburn, a retired Air Force major general, devoted a good portion of his speech to the “war against radical Islam.” He said the ongoing battle is a multigenerational struggle that will not be solved quickly, but the consequences are too grave to back off the fight.

He also reiterated positions from his last run, including his opposition to abortion, support for gun rights and desire for more fiscal conservatism. Rayburn spoke briefly about the need to strengthen the local economy and stop the exodus of high-paying, hightech jobs from the area.

Without mentioning Lamborn by name, Rayburn railed against a lack of congressional leadership and said his 31-year military background has prepared him for that role.

“We don’t need another grudge match. We are at a crossroads in our party and in our country,” he told about 150 people at the Doubletree Hotel in Colorado Springs. “I am offering tonight to be that candidate who is best positioned to reunite this party, a party that has been badly split by politicians acting like politicians.”

Rayburn also said he is “not in this to make deals with other candidates,” a seeming reference to talks between him and Crank about one of them dropping out eventually to give the other a better shot at beating Lamborn. He did not elaborate, however.

A number of new loyalists, including former supporters of 2006 candidates Lionel Rivera, Duncan Bremer and Democrat Jay Fawcett, came out for Rayburn’s kickoff.

Rivera, mayor of Colorado Springs, attended the announcement. He said he’s staying neutral, but thinks Rayburn can win even a three-way primary race.

“You’ve got to remember what his district is made up of. It’s made up of retired folks, ex-military, active voters — and they’re looking for someone with military experience,” said Rivera, who finished fourth in the 2006 primary. “Bentley Rayburn brings a new element to the primary. He brings out people who might otherwise not come out and vote.”

Among his military accomplishments Rayburn cited were commanding a $17.2 billion combat wing in Saudi Arabia and serving as president of the Air War College.

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