Obama leads by 4 in Colorado

PPP's newest Colorado poll finds Barack Obama's position improving slightly in the state after his debate victory this week. He now leads Mitt Romney 51-47, up from a 50-47 spread last week.

Colorado voters think Obama was the winner of Monday night's debate by a 51/38 margin, and it seems to be having a positive impact on his approval numbers. 51% of voters give him good marks to 47% who disapprove, up from a 49/49 spread last week. Romney's favorability numbers are unchanged from a week ago with 48% of voters rating him favorably and 49% unfavorably. Voters trust Obama more on both the economy (50/46) and Libya (53/44) than they do Romney.

Obama has a 51/43 lead with independents. Beyond that his advantage is being driven by large margins with women (54/44), Hispanics (65/34), and young voters (60/35). Romney's main areas of support are with men (49/47), whites (52/46), and seniors (56/41).

When Gary Johnson's included he gets just 2%. He's polled at higher levels over the course of the year but this is what tends to happen with third party candidates as the election gets closer- their support evaporates. That's why we have tended not to include Johnson in most of our polling over the course of the year. Johnson draws slightly more from Obama than Romney, leaving the President ahead 49-46 when he's in the mix.

Colorado's amendment to legalize marijuana continues to lead for passage with 53% of voters saying they plan to support it to 43% who are opposed. This plays out very much as a generational issue with voters under 30 favoring it 73/25, while seniors oppose it 38/55. Every age group except seniors supports the amendment, and it has a 58/36 advantage with independents.

On one final note Democrats lead the generic legislative ballot in Colorado 48/42, including a 42/36 lead with independents. That should translate to their picking up some seats this fall.

Full results here

Comments

[Smooth Jazz]

Here's the problem you guys have: The big, unaffilated trackers from Gallup, Wash Post/ABC & Rasmussen ALL show 50 - 47 Romney up today. A remarkable level of consistency that we don't see too often on a national level. Yet you guys have Obama ahead 4 - 6 points in all the swing states; Not credible given Romney's lead in the National numbers.

I think you guys have too many Dems in your polls. You had a couple recent polls of IA & OH that showed the race tied and I thought you were trying your best to level the playing field. Now with your polls in recent days (Obama up 5 in VA & CO when virtually every other pollster has Romney up 2 - 4 as he obliterates Obama with Independents IN VERY SINGLE POLL) showing big Obama leads, I think you guys are at it again. The ONLY way your numbers are credible given Romney's huge leads with independents across the board is if Dems outvote Reps by 9 - 10%.

Remember, the ultimate arbiter is the election itself. If your numbers are catching devoted Dems who vote early to beat the traffic on election day, your numbers are vastly inflated, as Obama gets obliterated by Reps & Inds who vote on election day. Good luck to you guys. I have a feeling the post mortem after this election for those pollsters who bloated Dem samples will be brutal.

[Sean]

You guys are a total joke and will likely be out of business after the election. You've become the new Research 2000.

[Lizbuddie]

You guys realize that you have lost credibility after your unprofessional, unnecessary snark directed at Gov. Gary Johnson supporters, right? That was dumb.

[OMG !]

Please poll South Carolina !!!

[Al Hicks]

Silly polls the last few days. No way it is even close in NC. But then, again, you are working for a Dem outfit, right?

[KL]

Who in their right mind trusts Obama on economic matters AND Libya? The deception, misrepresentation and inconsistencies of Obama are disturbing in the worst ways imaginable.the rules of military engagement under Obama are handcuffing our military in harms way as well. Everything in Obamas policies are set up to hinder America. Not surprising considering Obamas anti-american background

[Obama 2012]

it's amazing reading all of these alternate reality comments.

to you right wingers quoting the national trackers... have you ever considered that they're the ones who are wrong considering that the state polling (not just from PPP) indicates that Obama is winning? the state polling has been much more accurate than national polling in the past.

[mason]

Smooth Jazz sucks. It's not jazz, and I can't really call it smooth either.

Gallup thinks the electorate will be ~80% white. It won't. It hasn't been in a decade, and it never will be again. Their LV screen is way too tight, and they will be laughably off in a week.

Also, most VA polls are showing a tight race, not Romney by 2 to 4. There's more to the world than Rassmusen, grasshopper.