Colorado is a historically red state with the majority of voters registered as members of the Republican Party. In fact, the state can typically be divided into four distinctive voting regions: "the eastern plains (red), Denver and the northern suburbs (blue), Colorado Springs (very red), and the Western Slope (red)" (US News & World Report). So, why with all the red regions is the state favoring Obama in the polls?
The first answer to this question has to do with female and Hispanic voting in the state. Obama has been doing considerably well with both groups in this election. The Dallas Morning News reports that women will most likely make up about 54% of the voter pool on November 4. Currently, women in Colorado are partly responsible for bolstering Obama's slight lead in the state. Additionally, "Hispanics today make up almost 20 percent of Colorado's population, and they favor Obama by a more than 2-to-1 margin over John McCain, according to recent polls" (US News & World Report). This combination may prove lethal for John McCain on election day.
The second answer to Colorado's blue shift is due largely in part to the growth in population the state has experienced. Since 2000, Colorado has seen a 13% increase in population (US News & World Report). This shift has most noticeably been felt in metropolitan areas in the state which tend to be more liberal than any other area.
At this point, the next three and a half weeks will be crucial in Colorado for the McCain campaign. While the Republican Party has history on its side, the tides are changing in favor of Obama across the Centennial state.
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