-56% of Colorado voters would have supported the legislature passing a civil unions bill this year to only 38% opposed. That includes 58/37 support from independents, 65/32 favor from Hispanics, and 66/31 support from young voters.
Legislative Republicans killed the measure and in a perhaps related development Democrats lead the generic ballot in the state by a 46/41 margin. They could pick up a good number of seats this fall with those numbers.
Strong Democratic support from young voters, independents, and Hispanics is why the GOP has lost 5 consecutive Presidential/Gubernatorial/Senate races in the state. The party missed an opportunity here to appear more open minded to those groups it needs to do better with.
-Colorado's initiative to legalize marijuana is starting out with a narrow lead. 46% of voters support it with 42% opposed. Democrats favor it 62/25 while Republicans are nearly a mirror image, opposing it 62/27. Independents break the tie by supporting it 49/40. There is a predictable generation gap on this issue with seniors against it by a 52/30 margin but every other age group in support of it, including young voters by a 58/33 spread.
-It's impossible to say what the political climate will look like in 2014 but for now Mark Udall would be in good shape for reelection pretty much no matter who the Republicans put up against him. Udall has a solid 42/34 approval rating and would lead in hypothetical match ups against 7 different potential GOP foes we tested him against. The strongest of the GOP folks we tested is former Governor Bill Owens, who would trail Udall 47-43. The only other Republican who can hold Udall to a single digit lead is Congressman Mike Coffman, who trails 48-39.
If Udall was up for reelection this year he'd be in pretty good shape...we'll see what 2014 brings.
-One thing that helps the Democratic brand in Colorado is that John Hickenlooper continues to be one of the most popular Governors in the country. 60% of voters approve of him to only 26% who disapprove. Along with John Lynch of New Hampshire and Dave Heineman of Nebraska that makes him one of only 3 sitting Governors PPP's found with a 60% approval rating.
Hickenlooper has almost unanimous support from Democrats (81/11) and greater than 2:1 approval from independents (62/26). What really sets him apart from most Governors is that he nearly breaks even with Republicans, 36% of whom approve of him to 43% who disapprove.
-Colorado voters split evenly on Michael Bennet with 37% approving of him to 37% who disapprove.
Full results here
To be honest, I was surprised out how close the support was for civil unions (a full 38% opposed in the increasingly secular state of Colorado). Did you ask what their thoughts were on same-sex marriage?
Posted by: Andrew | June 20, 2012 at 03:24 PM
I love how when Republicans stand against same sex marriage it's because they aren't being "open minded" as PPP puts it, but when Democrats dismiss the concerns that people have about it (religion, morals, personal reasons) that's not being close minded. The argument that this is why they don't do well in the state is pure speculation. Every demographic rates the economy as the most important issue to them when voting, not these little fringe issues.
Posted by: John | June 20, 2012 at 08:59 PM
Andrew,
Colorado is so much more socially conservative than it is envisioned by the left. If it is increasingly secular, as you say, it's only increasing at the same rate as the rest of the country. It's not the secular panacea that some try to make it out to be. And that's a very good thing.
Posted by: Chris | June 21, 2012 at 01:16 PM
Colorado is one of the most deeply split states; those who are Republican are very, very Republican (and very religious), while those who are not at very very sensible.
Posted by: realnrh | June 21, 2012 at 04:49 PM
In 2006 Colorado voted on a measure that would have established domestic partnerships, and it failed by 6 points. I expect that the numbers have changed a bit since then but not enough to match these poll results...I would guess that support for civil unions in CO is around 55-45.
They should have just sent it to voters like they did in 2006; it probably would have passed this time.
Posted by: Chris Martin | June 25, 2012 at 12:55 PM