Raleigh, N.C. – Colorado’s freshman Senator Michael Bennet eked out a surprising less-than-two-point victory over Republican nominee Ken Buck last fall, but if voters headed to the polls now, they would send him back to Washington with a resounding 55-38 triumph. Key in Bennet’s surge is a reversal with independents, from Buck’s 53-37 edge to Bennet up 57-35 now. Bennet has left a good impression with voters as he settles into his previously appointed office. Just before the election, only 39% of voters approved of his work, and 47% disapproved. When PPP last polled the state in February, he was still at only a 42-40 approval margin. Now, it is 44-36.
John Hickenlooper was elected governor in that same election by a much more comfortable 15-point margin, and with 54% approving and 24% disapproving of his performance, he is the third most popular current governor on which PPP has polled.
Voters are closely divided on a referendum slightly raising the state income and sales tax rates in order to fund public education. 47% disapprove and 45% approve of these potential hikes. Republicans are more against it (73%) than Democrats for it (63%), but independents side 48-44 in its favor.
Voters would seem more open to legalizing marijuana use, however. 51% think it should be legal, and 38% prefer it to remain illegal. Independents are for it, 55-31, and Republicans are more for it (31%) than Democrats against it (24%).
Coloradans are split on same-sex marriage, with 45% believing it should be legal, and the same wanting to keep it illegal. Independents are for it, 54-33. Expanding the options to include civil unions, 71% of voters, including 57% of Republicans, 76% of independents, and 78% of Democrats, think gay couples should at least have the same legal rights as everyone else.
PPP surveyed 510 Colorado voters from August 4th to 7th. The margin of error for the survey is +/- 4.3%. This poll was not paid for or authorized by any campaign or political organization. PPP surveys are conducted through automated telephone interviews. PPP is a Democratic polling company, but polling expert Nate Silver of the New York Times found that its surveys in 2010 actually exhibited a slight bias toward Republican candidates.
Topline results are below. Full results, including crosstabs, can be found here.
Q1 Do you approve or disapprove of Governor
John Hickenlooper’s job performance?
Approve…………….. 54%
Disapprove………… 24%
Not sure ……………. 22%
Q2 Do you approve or disapprove of Senator Mark
Udall’s job performance?
Approve …………….. .45%
Disapprove…………. .34%
Not sure …………….. .22%
Q3 Do you approve or disapprove of Senator
Michael Bennet’s job performance?
Approve …………….. .44%
Disapprove…………. .36%
Not sure …………….. .21%
Q4 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Ken Buck?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 25%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 46%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 29%
Q5 If you could do last fall’s election for US Senate
over again, would you vote for Democrat
Michael Bennet or Republican Ken Buck?
Michael Bennet ……………………………………….. 55%
Ken Buck ……………………………………………….. 38%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 7%
Q6 Do you think same-sex marriage should be
legal or illegal?
Legal……………………………………………………… 45%
Illegal …………………………………………………….. 45%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 10%
Q7 Which of the following best describes your
opinion on gay marriage: gay couples should
be allowed to legally marry, or gay couples
should be allowed to form civil unions but not
legally marry, or there should be no legal
recognition of a gay couple’s relationship?
Gay couples should be allowed to legally
marry ……………………………………………………..40%
Gay couples should be allowed to form civil
unions but not marry …………………………………31%
There should be no legal recognition of a gay
couple’s relationship …………………………………27%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 2%
Q8 If there was an election for Congress today,
would you vote for the Democratic or
Republican candidate from your district?
Democratic candidate ………………………………. 45%
Republican candidate ………………………………. 40%
Undecided………………………………………………. 15%
Q9 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of the Tea Party?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 38%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 49%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 13%
Q10 Do you think prostitution should be legal or
illegal?
Legal……………………………………………………… 32%
Illegal …………………………………………………….. 56%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 12%
Q11 Do you think marijuana usage should be legal
or illegal?
Legal……………………………………………………… 51%
Illegal …………………………………………………….. 38%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 11%
Q12 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Scott McInnis?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 14%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 31%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 54%
Q13 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Tom Tancredo?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 30%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 43%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 26%
Q14 Would you support or oppose raising the
income tax in Colorado from 4.63% to 5% and
the sales tax from 2.9% to 3.0% in order to
increase funding for public education?
Support ………………………………………………….. 45%
Oppose ………………………………………………….. 47%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 7%
Q15 Who did you vote for President in 2008?
John McCain…………………………………………… 41%
Barack Obama………………………………………… 50%
Someone else/Don’t remember …………………. 8%
Q16 Would you describe yourself as very liberal,
somewhat liberal, moderate, somewhat
conservative, or very conservative?
Very liberal ……………………………………………… 13%
Somewhat liberal …………………………………….. 22%
Moderate………………………………………………… 27%
Somewhat conservative……………………………. 23%
Very conservative ……………………………………. 16%
Q17 If you are a woman, press 1. If a man, press 2.
Woman ………………………………………………….. 51%
Man……………………………………………………….. 49%
Q18 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 ……………………………………………….. 41%
Republican……………………………………………… 33%
Independent/Other…………………………………… 26%
Q19 If you are Hispanic, press 1. If white, press 2.
If other, press 3.
Hispanic…………………………………………………. 14%
White …………………………………………………….. 80%
Other……………………………………………………… 6%
Q20 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………………………………………………….. 10%
30 to 45………………………………………………….. 25%
46 to 65………………………………………………….. 43%
Older than 65………………………………………….. 21%
