CO-Sen: Bennet slightly ahead in latest PPP poll

[ProSense]

CO-Sen: Bennet slightly ahead in latest PPP poll

by Joan McCarter

Colorado voters are apparently taking a close look at Ken Buck as the election draws nearer. Which is good news for Dem Michael Bennet.

PPP's newest Colorado poll finds him holding onto a 46-45 lead over Ken Buck.

Both candidates have their party base pretty much completely locked up: Bennet is winning 85% of Democrats and Buck is winning 84% of Republicans. Bennet's slight edge comes because of something that is pretty unusual for Democratic candidates across the country this year- he's ahead 48-38 with independent voters.

Bennet's lead with independents is not because they like him- in fact they don't. His approval rating with them is a negative 37/45 spread. Rather it appears to be the price to pay for Republicans nominating a candidate with limited appeal to the center. Independents see Buck unfavorably by an even wider spread, 31/50.

Colorado's unaffiliated voters makes up nearly a third of the state's electorate, and according to this polling, the biggest chunk of them, those who call themselves moderate, give Bennet a 24 point lead. They really don't like Buck, seeing him negatively by more than a 2:1 margin, 27/57. That's where Bennet is gaining ground, even though his approval rating is just 35 percent. I would suspect that this ad has helped.

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Jensen points out that "these poll numbers are predicated on an electorate that split its votes evenly between Barack Obama and John McCain, suggesting a pretty large drop in Democratic turnout from 2008 given that Obama actually won the state by 9 points." So Bennet needs to close the enthusiasm gap with Dems. Reminding them that the personhood amendment is back on the ballot (they defeated it once already) and that Ken Buck supports it is critical.

[paulk]

1. the better of two bad choices

"Bennet's lead with independents is not because they like him- in fact they don't. His approval rating with them is a negative 37/45 spread. Rather it appears to be the price to pay for Republicans nominating a candidate with limited appeal to the center. Independents see Buck unfavorably by an even wider spread, 31/50."

[recadna]

2. I have a bad feeling of this race

Ken Buck seems to be the most capable of all tea-bagger candidiates.

[madamesilverspurs]

5. Not capable,

as much as he is willing to say/do anything to favorably manipulate a scenario. Any scruples he has are strictly self-serving; he has a documented history of crossing legal and ethical boundaries. As DA he has engaged in politically vindictive prosecutions. Our county government would be much improved by his departure, but sending him to the Senate is not the way to make that happen.

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[FBaggins]

7. I think that he meant capable as a candidate.

Not a particularly high bar to get over when you're talking about Angle,O'Donnel, etc.

[catgirl]

3. I'm glad Colorado voters are finally seeing the light

Bennett has the momentum now.

[Cognitive_Resonance]

4. Come on CO you can do it. Keep pushing. nt

[kentuck]

6. I think Bennett will squeak thru in Colorado...

There are a lot of moderate Repubs that will not vote for Buck. The only reason Buck has a chance is that there are more Independents than either Repubs or Dems.

[madamesilverspurs]

8. And there's this:

http://www.coloradopols.com/diary/13995/750000-ad-buy-ties-golyansky-around-bucks-neck

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