PPP Polling Skewed?

A post worth looking at over at ColoradoPols

Like we said discussing another purported result of this poll, the amusing notion that historic political faceplant Bob Beauprez might actually be an electable candidate for the U.S. Senate, it was weighted in a manner that will invariably skew the results to favor GOP candidates and policy positions--almost 40% of the poll's respondents were self-identified Republicans, when the reality in Colorado is more like 33%. If you were to re-align these sampled numbers to demographic reality, you'd get a much different result. It's really that simple.

So the polled more Republicans then Colorado usually has voting, yes. However, when your party is out of power completely the guys to blame almost always is other party. Put that on top of the fact that Republicans will be more eager to get dems out of office then dems will be to keep them in office could make some truth to the fact that 40% of people polled were Republicans.

Still interesting post to look at.

Ritter Flips In Only Two Days

From RMR...

If you go to 9News.com, do a search simply for "Ritter." Today's headline
reads: Cuts, fee hikes in Ritter's budget plans. But on Sunday, just two short
days ago, the headline was: Gov. Ritter: No new taxes or fees.

Apparently, a carefully crafted statement where there won't be any new
fees, only fee increases. Thanks, guv!

Canter Drops Out

Just in...David Canter (Democrat) running for the 6th Congressional District in a primary against John Flerlage to later challenege Mike Coffman has just dropped his bid for US Congress.

17th August 2009

Over the past month, I have met with friends, family, supporters,
campaign consultants, elected officials and campaign staff regarding the
viability of my campaign to become the first Democrat to represent Colorado's
6th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives.
As many of you know, there were two exceptional candidates vying for the support of the Democrats and Progressives of Colorado's 6th Congressional District: me and John Flerlage. We both campaigned hard and, understandably, many members of our party were conflicted as to where they should donate their time, expertise and money. Some even decided to wait until after the August 2010 primary to show their support for the future nominee.

As Abraham Lincoln once observed, "A house divided against itself
cannot stand." Thus, after much deliberation, and for the good of the party and
the people of this district, I have decided to suspend my campaign.

Though my campaign may be suspended, I remain committed to work with
local parties and candidates to change the status quo in the 6th Congressional
District. I may have stepped aside, but I am not stepping away. Much work
remains to be done.

For far too long our progressive ideals and values have fallen on deaf
ears in the 6th Congressional District -- a district that has become synonymous
with the hate-filled, bigoted rhetoric of people like Tom Tancredo. The 6th
Congressional District's Republican establishment has turned its backs on the
people of this district -- people who are losing their jobs, their health care
coverage, their ability to provide for their families. Too many in this district
can't afford to send their kids to college, while still others are forced to
chose between putting gas in their cars or paying their mortgage. No one in this
economy is immune -- not Democrats, not Independents, and not Republicans.

Over the past several months, John Flerlage and I have appeared at
functions together, we have talked to one another, and we have exchanged our
ideas on the issues that are most important to you. Though I am suspending my
campaign, I pledge my support for John to help him build a grassroots effort
that will unite our party and bring victory to the Progressives in a district
that has been ignored by those on the right for far too long.

In closing, I extend my appreciation to those of you who supported my
campaign, who provided me with encouragement, and who recognized that a Democrat can win Colorado's 6th Congressional District. It has been a wonderful and
humbling experience meeting with you and hearing firsthand what you expect from
your elected officials. Last, a special "thank you" to my wife, Joni, and my children, Joshua, Sam and Amanda, for allowing me to take this journey with you over the past 10 months.

Warmest regards, and with my deepest, heartfelt gratitude,

David S.
Canter

Colorado Senate Race Wide Open

From PPP...

Michael Bennet's approval rating is just as bad as it was
when we polled Colorado in April but voters in the state don't like any of his possible Republican opponents either, leaving this Senate contest pretty wide open.

38% of voters in the state disapprove of Bennet's job performance so far
with 31% approving. Those numbers are roughly equal to our previous survey which found the numbers at 41% disapproval to 34% approval. There are two primary reasons for Bennet's net negative ratings. The first is that Republicans disapprove (62%) of him more than Democrats approve of him (57%). The second is that he's getting unfavorable reviews from independents, 36% of whom disapprove of him compared to 29% approving.

One piece of good news for Bennet is that he's getting better reviews now
from the key Democratic constituency of Hispanic voters now than he was when we polled the state in April and January. 38% approve of the job he's doing with just 27% disapproving. It had been 41% disapproving and 33% approving earlier, perhaps a reflection of unhappiness that Ken Salazar was not replaced by another Hispanic senator.

Potential Republican opponents Bob Beauprez, Ryan Frazier,
and Ken Buck all get overall negative reviews from voters in
the state as well. 40% have an unfavorable opinion of Beauprez to 30% with a positive one. For Frazier it's 19% negative and 11% favorable and for Buck the numbers are 18% unfavorable and 17% favorable.

In head to head contests Beauprez leads Bennet 42-39, while the incumbent has a 39-35 advantage over Buck and a 38-33 one against Frazier.Bennet's numbers are partially a reflection of the downward turn in Democratic fortunes nationwide over the last few months, as seats that were thought to be safe for 2010 have come into play in conjunction with the decline in Barack Obama's approval rating. It's also a function of the fact that most voters still don't know him very well, something that his prodigious fundraising will be able to rectify in spades next year.

Full results here

First thing first, no one likes any of 'em. All four guys have negative approval. Beauprez obviously showing good numbers from his run in 2006 when he didn't know why he was running. Buck and Frazier and even Bennet are still pretty unknown too, and people are more likely to know politicians if they're mad at them.

This polling is virtually the same as the last time there was polling meaning nothing's changed. After months of campaign, it's still locked. Beauprez edges Bennet, Bennet edges Buck and Frazier.

Still, it's over a year before the general election and anything could happen between now and then, I mean anything. Remember when we all though it was gunna be Giuliani vs Hillary? Or we thought Huckabee wouldn't ever win a state and that Obama would win only about three?

Later this week the Gubernatorial race. Haven't seen those numbers in a while either.

Coffman Blames Dems for Lay-offs

(LONE TREE, CO) – U.S. Rep. Mike Coffman (R-Colorado)
today passed blame for Lockheed Martin Space Systems’ announced 4.5%
(approximately 800 employees) workforce lay-off to the Obama Administration and
Congressional Democrats. Space Systems will lay-off personnel primarily at the
Denver, CO, and Sunnyvale, CA, facilities.

“I will say what Lockheed Martin can’t say because of their reliance on the Congress to fund a number of ongoing programs: “Lockheed Martin is reducing jobs to meet the reduction in the investment America is now making in our national missile defense and space assets. If these cuts were a part of a general government belt-tightening, they would still be dangerous to our long-term national security. The fact that our national space assets are being cut while we keep spending like a drunken sailor elsewhere is infuriating.

“These are good-paying American jobs being cut, and their loss will affect communities, schools, and the local economy. The agenda-driven priorities of those in Congress and the Administration demand cuts to military and space budgets – yet at the same time they have run a deficit of over $1 trillion, which we don’t have, since President Obama took office. This is shameful.”

DelGrosso To Replace Marostica

From Rocky Mountain Right

Brian DelGrosso was selected to replace Don Marostica last night at the State
House District 51 Vacancy Committee and joins the swelling ranks of appointed
state legislators. The Coloradoan
reports:
DelGrosso grew up in Cheyenne, where he served as a legislative aide
for one session while in college. He also began delivering pizza for Domino’s as
a college student in Cheyenne, where he eventually was nominated for management
training.
That led to him becoming the operations director for 20 stores,
overseeing 300 people and accountable for the finances of the
businesses.
Today, he owns three restaurants, two in Loveland and one in
Windsor.

Gardner Wants Shared Town Hall With Markey

State Rep. Cory Gardner (R-Yuma) today extended an invitation to
U.S. Rep. Betsy Markey (D- Fort Collins) to join him next week for the second of
two town hall meetings he has scheduled during the month August. The first
meeting, held on August 11th, included more than 30,000 constituents from
Colorado’s 4th Congressional District. The second meeting is scheduled for
Wednesday, August 19th, at 6:30 pm. Rep. Gardner invited Rep. Markey to join him
at the Lincoln Center mini theater (located at 417 W Magnolia St, in Fort
Collins) to meet with local residents.

“With spiraling deficits
complicating landmark decisions on issues like healthcare, energy independence,
and economic growth, certainly now is the time to put aside partisan bickering
and listen to the voice of the people,” noted Rep. Gardner in an open letter
delivered yesterday to Rep. Markey’s offices.

“The time for you and I to
debate policy will come soon enough, but right now, at this seminal time for our
great nation, it is vital that we hear from those who will bear the brunt of
government burdens,” continued Gardner. “With Congress on its August break and
no town hall meetings of your own on the schedule, my hope is that you will be
free to join me and discuss these issues of importance with Colorado’s working
families.”

Gardner placing himself above the field looking very confident he will win the primary hands down. Markey could say yes and of course all the other Republican candidates and supporters would be angered that their candidates have been "pushed out". She could say no and Gardner and the Republicans could taunt her. Or she could not answer or pretend to be busy and every can still make fun of her.

Sure is a bold move for Gardner, though he thinks he's playing his cards right. This looks like a move from the Republican nominee, not a candidate for the Republican nominee.

But the competition against Gardner isn't too scary now is it?