Raleigh, N.C. – Colorado is without a doubt Broncos country. Of the four major professional sports franchises in the state, 40% of voters say the NFL club is their favorite, followed by baseball’s Rockies (19%), hockey’s Avalanche (9%), and the NBA’s Nuggets (6%). A quarter are not sure which they prefer.
The Broncos just nabbed a very popular free agent to helm their offense next season in Peyton Manning. 62% of Coloradans see him favorably and only 9% unfavorably. But they traded away a figure perhaps even more beloved in Tim Tebow, whom 70% see positively and 18% negatively. The man calling the shots for player acquisitions, former star quarterback John Elway, is also popular with the state’s voters (65-19).
Coloradans are glad Manning is taking over under center—twice as many (53%) would prefer he actually play than Tebow (26%). But among the most conservative voters—those who admired Tebow’s professed faith—the margin is the opposite. 53% of the 13% who call themselves very conservative would have preferred Tebow remain at QB, versus 28% who are glad Manning will be aboard.
Despite barely hanging onto the final playoff spot in the Western Conference right now, Nuggets fans still feel overwhelmingly that they are better off without former star forward Carmelo Anthony than they were with him. 44% say that, versus 17% who believe they are worse off.
Rockies fans are just somewhat optimistic about their chances in October. Only 23% think they will miss the postseason, though a 42% plurality believe they will make it no further than the NLCS. Only 7% believe they will win it all.
Rockies fans have no love left for former ace Ubaldo Jimenez after he plunked star shortstop Troy Tulowitzki in a recent spring training game; Jimenez was traded to the Cleveland Indians last summer. 17% of Coloradans see Jimenez favorably and 30% unfavorably, versus 58-3 for Tulo. Aging first-baseman Todd Helton is at 55-5.
PPP surveyed 542 Colorado voters from April 5th to 7th. The margin of error for the survey is +/-4.2%. This poll was not paid for or authorized by any campaign or political organization. PPP surveys are conducted through automated telephone interviews.
Topline results are below. Full results, including crosstabs, can be found here.
Q1 Is your favorite pro sports team in Colorado the
Avalanche, Broncos, Nuggets, or Rockies?
Avalanche ………….. . 9%
Broncos……………… .40%
Nuggets …………….. . 6%
Rockies……………… .19%
Not sure …………….. .25%
Q2 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Peyton Manning?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 62%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 9%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 28%
Q3 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Tim Tebow?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 70%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 18%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 12%
Q4 Who would you rather have as the Broncos
quarterback: Peyton Manning or Tim Tebow?
Peyton Manning………………………………………. 53%
Tim Tebow ……………………………………………… 26%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 22%
Q5 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of John Elway?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 65%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 19%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 16%
Q6 Do you think the Nuggets were better off with
Carmelo Anthony, or are they better off without
him?
Better off with Anthony……………………………… 17%
Better off without him……………………………….. 44%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 39%
Q7 What do you think the outcome of the Rockies’
season will be this year: win the World Series,
win the National League but not the World
Series, make the playoffs but not win the
pennant, or miss the playoffs?
The Rockies will win the World Series ………… 7%
They’ll win the NL but not the Series…………… 11%
They’ll make the playoffs but not win the
pennant…………………………………………………..42%
They’ll miss the playoffs……………………………. 23%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 17%
Q8 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Ubaldo Jimenez?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 17%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 30%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 53%
Q9 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Todd Helton?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 55%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 5%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 40%
Q10 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Troy Tulowitzki?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 58%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 3%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 39%
Q11 Who did you vote for President in 2008?
John McCain…………………………………………… 43%
Barack Obama………………………………………… 51%
Someone else/Don’t remember …………………. 6%
Q12 Would you describe yourself as very liberal,
somewhat liberal, moderate, somewhat
conservative, or very conservative?
Very liberal ……………………………………………… 13%
Somewhat liberal …………………………………….. 22%
Moderate………………………………………………… 28%
Somewhat conservative……………………………. 23%
Very conservative ……………………………………. 13%
Q13 If you are a woman, press 1. If a man, press 2.
Woman ………………………………………………….. 51%
Man……………………………………………………….. 49%
Q14 If you are a Democrat, press 1. If a Republican,
press 2. If you are an independent or identify
with another party, press 3.
Democrat ……………………………………………….. 36%
Republican……………………………………………… 35%
Independent/Other…………………………………… 30%
Q15 If you are Hispanic, press 1. If white, press 2.
If other, press 3.
Hispanic…………………………………………………. 14%
White …………………………………………………….. 79%
Other……………………………………………………… 7%
Q16 If you are 18 to 29 years old, press 1. If 30 to
45, press 2. If 46 to 65, press 3. If you are
older than 65, press 4.
18 to 29………………………………………………….. 14%
30 to 45………………………………………………….. 30%
46 to 65………………………………………………….. 36%
Older than 65………………………………………….. 20%