Obama up 6 in Colorado

PPP's newest Colorado poll finds Barack Obama leading Mitt Romney 51-45 in the state. That represents a three point improvement for Obama since Labor Day weekend when he had a 49-46 advantage.

The key for Obama in Colorado is that he's neutralizing or even holding a small lead with some of the groups he tends to struggle with. For instance he's actually slightly ahead, 49-48, with white voters and when you add his typical 65-29 lead with Hispanics to the mix it gives him his overall healthy lead. He's also leading 51-46 with men to go along with his usual advantage among women, 52-44 in this case. Romney does have a 52-45 lead with seniors but Obama more than offsets that with a 58-38 lead among voters under 45.

Since our last poll Obama has seen a 4 point improvement in his net approval rating, from slightly negative ground at 48/49 to slightly positive at 50/47. Romney's seen a small decline in his favorability numbers from 46/50 to 45/51.

Romney did not help himself with his '47%' comments earlier this week. 38% of voters said his sentiment made them less likely to vote for him, compared to only 27% who consider them a positive. Romney trails Obama 51-41 with independents and Obama is also benefiting from a more unified party with 91% of Democrats supporting him compared to 86% of Republicans who are behind Romney.

We also tested an iteration of the Presidential race in Colorado including Libertarian Gary Johnson. Johnson polls at 4% but doesn't have any sort of spoiler effect- he pulls equally from Obama and Romney, still leaving Obama with a 6 point lead at 49-43.

A couple of other notes from Colorado:

-Voters trust Obama over Romney both when it comes to the economy (49-46) and foreign policy (53-45).

-52% of voters in the state think Romney should release 12 years of his tax returns to 41% who think he should not.

Full results here

Comments

[Becky DaQuila]

Obama leading with white voters in CO? I'm not trying to be rude, but that is total crap.

I think we all know that you are making up numbers.

[scott]

Obama won the white vote in CO 4 years ago, so why not? On another issue, would it be possible for you guys to poll SC and GA? Probably not anywhere near swing states this year, but they've been pretty spottily polled, and any information would be good to discern long-term trends, how this year's race is playing out there, etc. Thanks!

[Reeves]

Um becky ugh maybe not co is not the south nor is it utah. Bama won 43 in 2008 of the white vote nationwide. He is at about 40 flat now. In ca and ny he is winning the white vote bu bigger margins. So 1 point or tied. Besides this is a gop leaning pollster loke fox amd they have bama ahead in co too

[Bob]

Can we please see a Georgia or South Carolina poll?