Raleigh, N.C. – Colorado’s John Hickenlooper starts his term as the third most popular of the 39 governors on which PPP has polled in the last year or so. 52% approve of his job performance, 23% disapprove, and 24% are not yet sure how they feel about their new executive. While 77% of Democrats are behind him, only 44% of Republicans are down on him, with a pretty healthy 22% giving him a thumb’s-up. Independents approve, 52-14.
With yesterday’s release showing Coloradans wary of a Tea-Party Republican presidential nominee and more favorable towards a moderate, their opinion of 2010 GOP Senate nominee Ken Buck sheds some light on his loss and what Republicans have to do to win statewide in Colorado again. 45% of all voters think Buck too conservative, with only 38% seeing him as “about right.” That same 45-38 breakdown is true for independents as well.
Bennet managed to eke out a win despite his own mediocre 39-47 approval margin, which has even now improved to only 42-40, with a lot of voters still not sure about him across the board. He has only two-thirds of his party in his corner, and 70% of Republicans disapprove, but he is boosted by a 44-34 from independents. Bennet’s senior colleague, Mark Udall, is viewed a little more favorably overall, 45-35, because he is a little less polarizing.
Despite serving as Attorney General for six years and stirring up publicity for joining federal challenges to health care reform, potential future Senate or gubernatorial candidate John Suthers is not very well known in the state. 54% have no opinion of him, and those who do break narrowly against him, 22% favorable and 24% unfavorable. His fellow Republicans are actually the least aware of him, but they like him, 31-9. Democrats dislike him by an opposite -22 margin, and independents are split, 21% positive and negative.
Former Senator, and Suthers’ antecedent as AG, Ken Salazar, is still fairly well liked, with a 47-37 favorablity rating.
PPP surveyed 517 Colorado voters from February 4th to 6th. The survey’s margin of error is +/-4.3%. Other factors, such as refusal to be interviewed and weighting, may introduce additional error that is more difficult to quantify.
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 …………………………………………………. 52%
Disapprove……………………………………………… 23%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 24%
Q2 Do you approve or disapprove of Senator
Michael Bennet’s job performance?
Approve …………………………………………………. 42%
Disapprove……………………………………………… 40%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 18%
Q3 Do you approve or disapprove of Senator Mark
Udall’s job performance?
Approve …………………………………………………. 45%
Disapprove……………………………………………… 35%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 20%
Q4 Did you consider Republican Senate nominee
Ken Buck to be too liberal, too conservative, or
about right?
Too liberal ………………………………………………. 8%
Too conservative……………………………………… 45%
About right ……………………………………………… 38%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 9%
Q5 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Ken Salazar?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 47%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 37%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 16%
Q6 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of John Suthers?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 22%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 24%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 54%
Q7 Who did you vote for President in 2008?
John McCain…………………………………………… 42%
Barack Obama………………………………………… 51%
Someone Else/Don’t Remember………………… 7%
Q8 Would you describe yourself as a liberal,
moderate, or conservative?
Liberal ……………………………………………………. 25%
Moderate………………………………………………… 41%
Conservative…………………………………………… 35%
Q9 If you are a woman, press 1. If a man, press 2.
Woman ………………………………………………….. 54%
Man……………………………………………………….. 46%
Q10 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 ……………………………………………….. 43%
Republican……………………………………………… 35%
Independent/Other…………………………………… 22%
Q11 If you are Hispanic, press 1. If white, press 2.
If other, press 3.
Hispanic…………………………………………………. 14%
White …………………………………………………….. 81%
Other……………………………………………………… 5%
Q12 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………………………………………………….. 8%
30 to 45………………………………………………….. 24%
46 to 65………………………………………………….. 48%
Older than 65………………………………………….. 20%
