SMU Election Project CO

What Happened?

2008-11-06T17:26:00.000-08:00

On Election Day, Colorado supported their first Democratic candidate since 1964, awarding Barack Obama its nine electoral votes. The question is, how and why did this state turn blue?

First, in a break down of votes by county, Obama carried most of the state's most central and populous areas including Larimer, Boulder, Jefferson, Adams, Arapahoe, and Clear Creek. These counties not only contain Colorado's most metropolitan areas including Denver, Lakewood, and Aurora, they also house Colorado's most prominent universities and colleges. In addition to these counties, Obama also carried many of the counties along the Colorado-New Mexico border, a state that also went for Obama.

In contrast, John McCain carried most of the state's rural counties in both east and west Colorado. While by number of counties, McCain outnumbered Obama, the counties he carried were far less dense in population.

Secondly, looking at the exit polls, Obama also carried the largest demographic groups in Colorado. The vote by sex showed men voting 49% for Obama and 50% for McCain; however, women voted for Obama 56% to McCain's 41%. As for the Hispanic vote, Obama received 61% to McCain's 38%.

Finally, of voters basing their decision on the economy, 56% supported Obama while only 42% supported McCain. For these reason, Obama was able to turn the state soundly blue.

Colorado Called for Obama

2008-11-04T20:14:00.000-08:00

CNN called Colorado for Barack Obama at 10:13 p.m. central, shortly after there projection of Obama to be the overall winner of the presidential election.

McCain in Colorado Today

2008-11-04T08:58:00.000-08:00

John McCain will make one last stop in the Centennial State today. He will speak to supporters on the tarmac of the Grand Junction Airport. "America is worth fighting for. Nothing is inevitable here," said McCain (Assiciated Press).

This will be his final effort to keep the state red before the polls close this evening.

One Day to Go!!!

2008-11-03T10:35:00.000-08:00

The latest polling combined with Obama's unprecedented ground game in Colorado leads me to believe that when the polls close tomorrow, Colorado will have gone blue, supporting their first Democratic presidential nominee since 1964's Lyndon B. Johnson.

Along with Obama's win, Mark Udall will also take the Senate race for the Democrats as well.

Obama Makes a Last Stop in Colorado Before Election Day

2008-11-02T15:26:00.000-08:00

In Obama's final visit to Colorado before Election Day, he and wife Michelle urged supporters to continue their Get-Out-the-Vote efforts.

The prevalence of advance voting in Colorado, over 56% of voter's in the state have already cast their ballots, made for a different atmosphere at the rally. With the campaign aware the most of the crowd had already voted, Obama Several asked supporters to turn their sights now to people who haven't yet cast their ballots. "We can't afford to sit back or slow down. We've got to win Colorado," said Obama (CBS Channel 4 Denver).

Obama also poked fun at Vice President Dick Cheney's endorsement of McCain given earlier that day in Wyoming.

"President Bush is sitting out the last few days before the election. But earlier today, Dick Cheney came out of his undisclosed location and hit the campaign trail. He said that he is, and I quote, 'delighted to support John McCain,' " Obama said. "I'd like to congratulate Sen. McCain on this endorsement because he really earned it. That endorsement didn't come easy. Sen. McCain had to vote 90 percent of the time with George Bush and Dick Cheney to get it" (The Denver Post).

Watch coverage of the event below:

Latest Colorado Poll Averages

2008-11-01T12:47:00.000-07:00

Obama: 51.6%
McCain: 44.5%

Mitt Romney to Campaign For McCain

2008-11-01T12:27:00.000-07:00

Former Gov. Mitt Romney of Massachusetts will campaign on behalf of John McCain this afternoon in Colorado. He will hold events in Colorado Springs and the Denver suburb of Greenwood Village reports the Boston Herald.

Romney was the Republican favorite in Colorado during the primaries. Hopefully, his former popularity will still resonate with Republicans in the state.

Colorado Voter Woes

2008-10-31T15:03:00.000-07:00

As the election draws closer, allegations of ballot tampering continue in Colorado.

New Polls Show Obama with 10 Poing Lead

2008-10-31T14:54:00.000-07:00

Polling released this morning by Public Policy Polling shows Obama leading John McCain by ten points. In addition, based the 2004 voting numbers, the poll also estimates that nearly 2/3 of Coloradans have already casts their ballots.

Pueblo Citizens UnHappy About Obama's Visit

2008-10-31T14:39:00.000-07:00

Small business owners in Pueblo, a Democratic stronghold in Colorado that will be the host to another Obama visit this Saturday, are not too happy about the presidential hopefuls latest visit. According to Face the State, some of them are downright mad.

Many businesses along Pueblo's Union Avenue Historic District are being forced to shut down for all of Saturday. "Sheila Glanville-Conlee, owner and curator of Amoré Antiques on Union Ave., says a Secret Service agent came into her store Thursday morning and told her she had to close her business on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. for security reasons" even thought the Obama rally will not begin until 3 p.m. that afternoon. Outraged, Glanville-Conlee has made up her mind that she will be a “Pueblo Democrat voting for McCain" (Face the State).

Will Glanville-Conlee's sentiments be shared by others and will it make a difference come Election Day? Although small business outrage might get McCain some support in Pueblo, Obama's appearance is likely to produce more excitement than upset overall.

New Polls Show Obama Still Leading in CO

2008-10-30T21:32:00.000-07:00

According to a new AP/GfK Roper Public Affairs and Media poll, Barack Obama has a 9-point lead over his opponent John McCain just 5 days from the election.

Obama and McCain Banking Ground Game to Win Colorado

2008-10-30T21:15:00.000-07:00

Phone banking and going door-to-door are still the most effective ways to get out the vote. Having conversations with possible voters is the best way to gain their support. That's why both the McCain and Obama camps are pulling out the big guns to get out the vote as the election nears.

Follow the following links to see interviews with the campaign directors of both the McCain and Obama campaigns in Colorado:

McCain Get Out the Vote Efforts:
http://www.cbs4denver.com/video/?id=48590@kcnc.dayport.com

Obama Get Out the Vote Efforts:
http://www.cbs4denver.com/video/?id=48591@kcnc.dayport.com

CO Hispanics Are Turning Out for Obama

2008-10-30T21:02:00.000-07:00

Seven out of ten Hispanic voters in Colorado are voting for Barack Obama from now until Nov. 4 reports the Examiner. Around 16% of the state's current voter pool identify themselves as Hispanic and of those, 70% are supporting Obama. "According to 2007 Census estimates, Hispanics make up 19.7 percent of Colorado's 4.9 million people. That's an increase of more than two full percent points from 2000, when Colorado was 17.1 percent Hispanic" (Examiner). With these numbers and this level of turnout, the Hispanic population could ensure an Obama victory.

So, what are Republicans doing in response? The RNC announced that it will sponsor a "Hispanics for Victory" bus tour across the southern part of the state. "The tour will make five stops in southern Colorado to rally support for John McCain and Sarah Palin, and participants will address grassroots volunteers and answer questions" (MarketWatch.com). Despite these efforts, it might be too little too late.

Barack Obama to Return to Colorado Before Election Day

2008-10-29T18:56:00.001-07:00

Denver's Channel 7 News reports that Barack Obama will be back in Colorado this Saturday campaigning in Pueblo. This will be the candidates second visit to Colorado in a six day time period. The Obama campaign is yet to release the details of his visit.

Michelle Obama Works GOP Stronghold of Colorado Springs

2008-10-29T18:16:00.000-07:00

Following in her husbands footsteps, Michelle Obama campaigned in Colorado yesterday. However, instead of visiting Democrat friendly cities like Pueblo, Obama went to Colorado Springs, a region teeming with military actives and veterans, and spoke to a crowd of 2,500. "This community has given us so much in terms of sacrifice in the military, and we are so grateful," she said (Denver Post).

Following her appeal to the military, Obama hit usual highlights of the Obama campaign including health care, education, and the War on Terror. The video below covers the highlights of her speech:

Threats in Colorado Getting Out of Control

2008-10-28T15:08:00.001-07:00

There have been accusations across the board of wrongful actions on both sides of the political spectrum as Election Day draws near. This time, the police are getting involved. A bloody dear head was found in the parking lot of Barack Obama's campaign office in Colorado Springs Saturday night.

"Police Lt. David Whitlock says the deer's antlers were cut off to make the head resemble a donkey, the Democratic Party's emblem." The police department released a statement saying the discovery is "a very disturbing event" and is being treated as a direct threat (Examiner).

John McCain's Colorado spokesman Tom Kise says the incident is "despicable" and compared it to an act of hate speech against the Obama campaign (Examiner).

At this point, police have no suspects but are forming a plan of action that involves increased patrolling around all of the city's campaign offices through Nov. 4.

Votes Absent in CO

2008-10-28T15:08:00.000-07:00

"With Election Day one week from today, only about a third of the people who requested mail-in ballots in Colorado have so far returned them,” the Denver Post writes. “That figure surprises some political insiders, who thought -- more than three weeks after mail-in ballots started going out -- that the number would be higher" (MSNBC).

This number may prove troubling for the Obama camp. One of the main strengths of the Obama campaign has been its ability to register record amounts of voters who are willing to get-out-the-vote. However, if not enough of the votes come in, there is a possibility that the state will stay true to its red history.

MIchelle Obama to Campaign in CO Next Week

2008-10-28T15:03:00.000-07:00

Michelle Obama will be holding a rally in Colorado today at the Colorado Springs Auditorium reports the Channel 9 News. It will begin at 4:30 p.m. and is free and open to the public.

Obama leads McCain in Fundraising Even in Republican Strongholds

2008-10-27T17:32:00.000-07:00

The Examiner reports that Barack Obama leads John McCain in total dollar amount raised in Colorado Springs. This wouldn't be surprising given Obama's fundraising abilities throughout the campaign thus far; however, Colorado Springs is an area where registered Republicans outnumber Democrats 2-to-1.

Current numbers show Obama raising $265,920 in donations to McCaion's $202,626. "President Bush's contributions from the same area in 2004 were three times that of Democrat Sen. John Kerry, who garnered only 35 percent of the vote. Since 1964 when Democrat Lyndon Johnson beat Republican Barry Goldwater, the Republican candidate for president has won" (Examiner).

Could this shift in support in a traditionally red city be an indicator of the overall shift in support throughout the state? It seems that the GOP is losing steam everywhere in Colorado, not just in the largest cities and college towns.

McCain Interview in Durango, CO

2008-10-27T16:31:00.000-07:00

Obama Draws Record Breaking Crowd at Today's CO Rally

2008-10-26T19:04:00.000-07:00

At his Denver rally this afternoon, Barack Obama spoke to over 100,000 enthusiastic supporters. Obama spoke on his usual battleground talking points encouraging early voting and reminding his supporters that this presidential race is not over. The Associated Press reports that the Democratic nominee seemed awed by the large size of the crowd that gathered to show their support.

" 'Goodness gracious," Obama said as he took the stage and peered at the human mass in Civic Center Park. People packed in all the way up the steps of the Capitol, off in the distance" (The Associated Press).

Obama also spent time drawing comparisons between his opponent and the current incumbent President George W. Bush. "Just this morning, Senator McCain said that he and President Bush 'share a common philosophy.' That's right, Colorado. I guess that was John McCain finally giving us a little straight talk, and owning up to the fact that he and George Bush actually have a whole lot in common. Well, we know what the Bush-McCain philosophy looks like. It's a philosophy that says we should give more and more to folks at the top and hope that it trickles down" said Obama (The Washington Post).

Obama then proceeded to adress a number of issues from the middle class to education. In conclusion to his speech, Obama reminded the crowd, "In Colorado, you can vote early right here, and right now. To find out how, just go to voteforchange.com. And if you stand with me in nine days, I promise you we will win Colorado, we will win this election, and then you and I -- together -- will change this country and change this world" (The Washington Post).

Highlights from the rally are below along with some get-out-the-vote alalysis:

Allegations of Voter Fraud Reach CO

2008-10-26T16:46:00.000-07:00

Some Colorado voter believe that if McCain wins the state on Nov. 4, it will be due to shady activities by the local GOP. The Political Issues Examiner summarized the new allegations in an article published today.

One "tactic is removing American citizens from the voter registries for questionable reasons. Here in Colorado, for example, as reported by the New York Times, more than 37,000 named were purged from the registration database by the Republican Secretary of State Mike Coffman, who critics contend should have resigned his post from the conflict-of-interest when he won the Republican nomination to run for congress.

Also here in Colorado, as another example, Republicans last month told students at liberal Colorado College (in conservative Colorado Springs) that students could not register to vote if their parents live out of state, which as patently untrue.

And right here in predominantly Democratic Denver, the Republican-owned Sequoia voting systems company failed to deliver to the post office more than 10,000 mail-in ballots while falsely telling city election officials that all of the required 21,000 ballots had been mailed. This incident represents only one of the required mailings."

I predict that Nov. 4 will be a long night due to the heightened allegations of voter fraud from both camps as Election Day approaches.

California GOP to Makeup for Spending Cuts in CO

2008-10-26T16:30:00.000-07:00

As blogged about earlier this week, the McCain camp has cut ad spending in Colorado by 46% in the last week alone. However, the California GOP just announced that it will be sending $2 million in funds "to help in last minute get out the vote efforts" (The San Francisco Chronicle).

McCain's Message for Colorado

2008-10-26T15:29:00.000-07:00

McCain rolled through Colorado making three campaign stops on Friday. He continued to portray himself as a defender of the middle class who loves being the underdog.

In his first appearance Friday morning in Denver, McCain pulled out all the stops with an introduction from former Denver Bronco's quarterback, John Elway. The football icon, known for his fourth-quarter comebacks told the Denver crowd that John McCain " 'knows a thing or two about comebacks' and expressed confidence that McCain would defy predictions that he will go down to defeat" (The Washington Post).

At the appearance, Sen. McCain hit his opponent hard on his tax policies saying, "Senator Obama is more interested in controlling wealth than in creating it, in redistributing money instead of spreading opportunity. I'm going to create wealth for all Americans by creating opportunity for all Americans" (The Washington Post).

At his next appearance in with small business owners in Colorado Springs, McCain continued to attack Obama's tax policies. "The answer to a slowing economy is not higher taxes, but that is exactly what is going to happen when the Democrats have total control of Washington," said McCain. "We can't let that happen. He ended by calling the small business owners "the economic hope for the future" (AFP).

Below is CNN coverage and analysis of McCain's Denver appearance:

10 Days To Go!

2008-10-23T21:14:00.001-07:00

Here is a break down of Colorado 10 days out from the election:

Current Status: Leaning Obama
Current Polling: The average of current polling data shows Obama leading McCain 50.4% to 45.0% with a +/-5.4 spread
Previous Election Results: 2004-Republican (George W. Bush), 2000-Republican (George W. Bush), 1996-Republican (Bob Dole), 1992-Democrat (Bill Clinton)
Key Issues: Economy, Energy Independence, Environment
Other Influential Races on the Ticket: Mark Udall (D) leading 48.3% v. Bob Schaffer (R) with 39% up for an open Republican Seat in the Senate

Analysis: Although McCain has history on his side, the youth, Hispanic, and female vote are all on Obama's side for this election. The Denver Post reports that McCain and Obama are currently head-to-head in rural areas of the state with McCain slightly leading Obama 46% to 45%. In addition, "According to early voting statistics posted by Colorado's Secretary of State on Tuesday, 96,104 mail-in ballots were returned by Democrats. Republicans turned in 99,306. When looking at the number of voters who showed up at early voting centers, 9,173 were Democrats and 6,309 were Republicans" (Channel 9 News). However, this week McCain cut his ad spending in the state by 46%. Taking all of the current polling into consideration, at this point I think Colorado is bouncing between too close to call and leaning Obama.

Could the Youth Vote Win Colorado for Obama?

2008-10-23T21:11:00.001-07:00

CNN breaks down the impact of college students in the election, especially in battleground states like Colorado.

Obama To Visit Sunday

2008-10-23T20:52:00.000-07:00

Sen. Barack Obama will hold a rally in Fort Collins, Colorado this Sunday reports Fort Collins Now. He will also hold rallies at Denver's Civic Center Park and at Colorado State University to encourage early voting.

McCain Cutting Back Spending in CO

2008-10-23T20:37:00.000-07:00

Despite his promises that he will not give up on Colorado, recent reports show that McCain has indeed cut back campaign spending in the state. The Associated Press reports that McCain camp has cut back advertising on Colorado's three biggest television stations.

So how much has McCain cut back? Apparently, his Republican ad spending has been reduced by 43% in the last week. In addition, the Associated Press also reports that the RNC has canceled $600,000 of campaign ads for "Rep. Marilyn Musgrave, a conservative three-term incumbent in northern and eastern Colorado locked in a tough reelection challenge."

What will this mean for McCain's campaign in the next week and a half?

Clinton, Obama, and McCain, Oh My!

2008-10-22T22:12:00.000-07:00

Both Barack Obama and John McCain will be in Colorado making campaign stops at the end of the week. In addition, Hillary Clinton will be in Colorado campaigning for Obama as well.

McCain will be stopping in Durango and Denver this Friday. Clinton will also be campaihging on Friday in Aurora. These visits will be followed by Obama in Denver on Sunday.

After Obama's last stop on Sunday, all of the prominant candidates for the 2008 election will have visited Colorado in one week's time. At this point, there is no denying the crucial role Colorado will play on Election Day.

Local McCain Interview on Colorado's KKTV

2008-10-22T22:08:00.001-07:00

John McCain announced he will be visiting Colorado this Friday on Colorado's own KKTV. Follow the link below to see clips of his interview and analysis of the other candidate's visits from the week.

http://www.kktv.com/news/headlines/32106969.html

Latest Poll Results Show Obama Lead

2008-10-22T22:01:00.000-07:00

The latest Rasmussen Poll shows Obama leading McCain by five percentage points, a smaller gap than last week's seven points. The polls findings show Obama leading McCain 51% to 46% with 3% of respondents claiming to be independents.

McCain Determined to Fight to the End in Colorado

2008-10-22T21:46:00.000-07:00

This past week, John King of CNN reported that John McCain's camp was giving up in Colorado.

Despite these assertions, the McCain camp is vhemently denying that they are pulling out of the state. In fact, when interviewed Tuesday by 7News, the ABC affiliate in Denver, McCain was asked about the CNN report. In response, he chuckled and said, "We're going to be in Denver and in Colorado Springs in the next couple of days. Listen, we're not only competitive in Colorado, but we'll win Colorado."

Biden Drives Home a Get-Out-The-Vote Meassage

2008-10-22T21:31:00.000-07:00

Campaigning this week in Colorado, Joe biden focused on the economy and the importance of the Colorado vote in this election. MSNBC quotes Biden as saying, “I want you to turn off the TV about red states and blue states... I want you focusing on one thing. Get out now and vote now. Because you know, you know something’s going to come our way. You know these guys are going to not only throw the kitchen sink, which they’ve been throwing. They’re going to find the bathroom sink. There’s going to be a lot coming our way.”

This warning is an interesting angle for Biden to take at this point in the election, especially after his comments in Seattle concerning Obama being tested by world leaders in the first months of his term as president.

Concerning the economy, in referring to John McCain, the Associated Press quotes Biden as saying, "I know we aren't running against President Bush, but we are running against the very same Bush economic policies that have dug us into this hole."

McCain to CO on Friday

2008-10-21T14:19:00.000-07:00

KOAA announced that John McCain will be making a campaign stop in Colorado on Friday. His visit will be the last in a week of multiple visits to the state by Sarah Palin and Joe Biden. No details of the visit have been released yet but supporters are excited to learn more as details are released.

The link below leads to a local news special on all of the candidates visits to the battleground state:
http://static.koaa.zope.net/includes/video/480x400_zope.swf?id=x1057407123

Protesters Try to Stop Palin From Reaching CO

2008-10-21T09:09:00.000-07:00

This footage shows a group of protesters trying to block Sarah Palin's motorcade on its way to a campaign stop in Colorado on Monday, October 20.

Joe Biden's Visit Is Official

2008-10-20T18:15:00.000-07:00

Democratic VP nominee Joe Biden will be in Greeley, CO tomorrow following Sarah Palin's visit today. The Greeley Tribune reports that biden will appear at the University of Northern Colorado.

“My phone’s been ringing off the hook. People want tickets.” said David Delgado, chairman of the Weld County Democratic Pary.

The even will be held at the Bulter-Hancock stadium, seating capacity 4,500.

Palin's Speech in Colorado

2008-10-20T18:05:00.000-07:00

Sarah Palin spoke today in Colorado Springs, CO. Her main message? Obama's tax policy is bad for the American economy.

The Associated Press quotes Palin as saying, "Barack Obama claims that he will cut income taxes for 95 percent of Americans. But the problem with that claim is, 40 percent pay no income taxes at all. So how do you cut income taxes for people who don't pay them?" to the laughter and applause of an adoring crowd.

Palin also took the time to highlight the positives of her running mate including his military service and his dedication to small business America.

Early Voting Begins Today

2008-10-20T17:53:00.000-07:00

Early voting began today in Colorado. In fact, this morning Sarah Palin requested that Coloradoans get out and vote early in favor of John McCain.

Fox News quotes Palin as saying, “So Colorado, understand that early voting understand begins today in this great state. Today. If you believe what we believe in and if you’re ready to shake up Washington and clean up Wall Street, if you’re ready to get this economy back on track and win these wars, John McCain and I are asking for your vote."

It will be interesting to see how the numbers look once they begin to roll in after a day of voting.

CO Students Show their Support for Obama

2008-10-20T17:34:00.000-07:00

It seems that Colorado students are doing their best to get more support for Barack Obama.

Voter Registration in Favor of Obama in CO

2008-10-19T19:28:00.000-07:00

According to new figures released by the secretary of state's office, 180,000 voters have registered in Colorado since July reports The Rocky Mountain News. Of these voters, 53% have redistered under the Democrat Party. The new numbers break down as 100,000-D, 37,00-R, and 46,000- I.

It seems that the numbers are in favor of Obama in CO. McCain is facing an uphill battle all the way to Election Day.

Biden to Follow Palin to Colorado

2008-10-19T19:15:00.000-07:00

According to PolitckerCO.com, Joe Biden is supposed to make his first appearance in the Centennial State since accepting his VIP nomination at the DNC in August on Tuesday and Wednesday of this week.

Although no details have been released by the Obama camp in regards to Biden's visit, it is clear that he will be following up Sarah Palin's visit to Colorado on Monday. Perhaps Biden will be visiting in order to make sure his ticket stays ahead in the CO polls.

Palin to Campaign in Colorado Springs Tomorrow

2008-10-19T17:23:00.000-07:00

This invitation is straight from the McCain-Palin website:

Please join
Governor Sarah Palin
for a Road to Victory Rally
in Colorado Springs, CO

Monday October 20th
Security Services Field - (Home of the Sky Sox)4385 Tutt Blvd.Colorado Springs, CO 80922

Doors Open at 6:00 a.m.Program begins at 8:00 a.m.

Please call (303) 952-4670 for ticketing information.

It seems that Palin will be trying to gain some ground in the battleground state that has most recently been polling in favor of Obama.

Latest Colorado Poll Summary

2008-10-19T16:37:00.000-07:00

MSNBC reports that following the second presidential debate, Barack Obama was leading John McCain in Colorado 52% to 43%. This establishes that Obama has taken a solid lead over his opponent in the traditionally red state.

In addition to Obama's nine point lead, polls also showed that Democrat Mark Udall leading Republican Bob Schaffer in the race for U.S. Senate, 54% to 40% (The Denver Post).

After the third and final presidential debate, the newest Time/CNN poll released shows Obama still leading McCain but only by a seven point margin with 50% to 43%. The polls margin of error was listed at +/- 3.5%.

Why is Colorado Turning Blue?

2008-10-08T10:36:00.000-07:00

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.

Dead Heat in New Colorado Poll

2008-10-07T13:57:00.000-07:00

A new poll released in Colorado shows both McCain and Obama ties with 44% support in the state. The Denver Post poll was conducted Monday through Wednesday by Mason-Dixon Polling and Research Inc.

How was the research done?

"A total of 625 registered Colorado voters were interviewed statewide by telephone. All stated they were likely to vote in the November general election. An additional 200 independent/unaffiliated voters also were interviewed, and the statewide results have been proportionately weighted to reflect the responses of all independent/unaffiliated voters.
A cross-section of phone exchanges was utilized to ensure an accurate reflection of the state. Quotas were assigned to reflect the voter turnout by county.

The margin of error is no more than plus or minus 4 percentage points. This means that there is a 95 percent probability that the "true" figure would fall within that range if the entire population were sampled. The margin of error is higher for any subgroup, such as regional or gender grouping" (The Denver Post).

Below is a picture representation of the research conducted:

The McCain-Palin Campaigns Personal Attack on Obama Began in CO

2008-10-07T13:23:00.000-07:00

When asked by a supporter at a Colorado campaign stop last week when he would "Take the gloves off," McCain responded, "How about Tuesday night?" (Fox News). Of course McCain's response directly refereces the second Presidential Debate that will be held tonihght in Nashville Tennessee, but his statements also foreshdowed a shift in campaign strategy for the McCain/Palin camp. From now on, their campiagn will do its best to highlight any character flaws of Barack Obama that may sway voter opinion out of his favor.

This new plan of action was apparent in Sarah Palin's fundraising visit to Colorado on Saturday as well. Fox News reports that Palin told her audience, " 'Our opponent, though, is someone who sees America, it seems, as being so imperfect -- imperfect enough that he's palling around with terrorists who would target their own country,' she said, referencing a front-page story in The New York Times on Saturday that examined the Obama-Ayers connection. "Americans need to know this. ... I think, okay we gotta get the word out. This is in fairness to the electorate we gotta start telling people what the other side represents.' "

The question to ask of this new campaign strategy is obvious. Will voters take to this new negative approach especially in the key battleground states? Since the new strategy kicked off in Colorado, it is obvious that it will be implemented primarily in key states. It will be interesting to see the response of voters in the coming weeks.

Michelle Obama Speaks Today in CO

2008-10-01T19:07:00.000-07:00

Michelle Obama spoke in support of her husband's campaign today at the University of Colorado, Boulder. Channel 9 News of Colorado reports that Michelle was at CU Boulder in order to raise support for Obama's mission to register as many voters as possible. This is especially important with deadlines approaching in many key battleground states, including Colorado.

Students at CU Boulder seemed overwhelmingly supportive of Mrs. Obama. The Daily Camera quoted Boulder's Student Body President Dustin Farivar as saying, "the event will be a way for students to become civically engaged and to hear a 'dynamic speaker.' Regardless of one’s politics, the chance to see a leader like Mrs. Obama in person on the eve of an important national election is a historic moment for our campus.”

Michelle brought Obama's message of hope and change to the students of CU Boulder along with her urges to register to vote. Colorado's Rocky Mountain News reports that Michelle began her speech by telling her audience that the Obama campaign needs the crowd’s work and prayers.
“We can change our future,” she said. “We can perhaps change the world.” With that, she concluded her speech and the crowd chanted "Yes, we can!"

McCain to Visit CO

2008-10-01T19:02:00.000-07:00

Senator McCain is visiting Denver on Thursday, and Pueblo on Friday of this week. His running mate Governor Palin will be in Centennial on Saturday. The Examiner reports that McCain is planning on holding his usual town hall meeting in Pueblo. These visits will come on the heels of Obama's visit this past Monday. Topics to look for will be the economy and the need for Republican supporters to mobilize across Colorado in order to lessen Obama's lead in the state.

McCain Issues New "Clean Coal" Ads in Colorado

2008-10-01T18:08:00.000-07:00

Although Obama' s energy plan includes measures for "clean coal," Joe Biden's words beg to differ. Apparently, a video of Biden has been circulating on the Internet in which he specifically states that the Democratic ticket does not support "clean coal."

MSNBC released the text of McCain's new radio ad attacking Biden's statement. The text is as follows:

Here's the Colorado script:
ANNCR: Clean Coal is important to America. And to Colorado. For
Coloradoans, coal means thousands of jobs. Economic growth. More affordable
electricity. For America, coal means energy independence. And clean coal means
cleaner air. But Obama-Biden and their liberal allies oppose clean coal. Listen
to Joe Biden.
JOE BIDEN: "No coal plants here in America". "We're not
supporting clean coal".
ANNCR: No coal plants in America? No jobs in Colorado? No energy
independence for America?
It's no surprise. After all, Obama-Biden and their
liberal allies opposed off-shore drilling. Congressional liberals blocked
off-shore drilling putting special interests, before our interests.
Obama-Biden and their liberal allies. Too risky for our jobs, our economic
future. Paid for by McCain-Palin 2008 and the Republican National Committee.
JOHN MCCAIN: I'm John McCain and I approved this message.

The question that one must ask is how far can a campaign go in stretching the truth? Yes, Biden did make an anti-clean coal slip; however, it is clear that Obama's energy plan does include clean coal measures. The issues of taking statements out of context and stretching them to make new meanings has been an issue for both campaigns. It will be interesting to see how the Obama campaign responds to these new ads since Obama has campaigned on a new kind of politics free of petty attacks against opposing candidates. Could this ad be McCain's response to Obama's increasingly negative ads in Colorado concerning the Hispanic vote.

Colorado Could Make It All

2008-10-01T17:10:00.001-07:00

Former Colorado Governor Bill Owens (R), predicts that whoever wins the battleground state of Colorado will inevitably win the whole election. That's a lot of pressure to be riding on one state and possibly the reason why both candidates continue to target their focus on the state.

Obama visited Colorado on Monday bringing his message on the economy and supporting the middle class to his supporters. He stressed the importance of Congress getting the job done during his speech at Mountain Range High. The Colorado Daily quotes Obama as saying, " 'It's an outrage that we're in this mess. We're here to make sure that it never happens again,' he said. 'This crisis is direct result of a philosophy that the people who've been running Washington for the last eight years have been following for decades. A philosophy that says, we should give more and more to those with the most and hope that prosperity trickles down to everyone else, a philosophy that says, even common-sense regulations are always unnecessary, always unwise.' "

Obama was supported by many Democratic party members from Colorado including, Governor Bill Ritter and 2nd-Congressional District seat hopeful Jared Polis. Thousands of avid supports packed into the high school to hear Obama and his fellow party members speak on the most pressing issues if the campaign. " 'Colorado families cannot afford four more years of the same Bush policies,' said Jared Polis. 'The economic policies of the Bush administration have devastated both Wall Street and Main Street. Barack Obama has a specific plan... he'll provide a tax cut for working families with small businesses,' " (The Colorado Daily).

This visit from Obama will be followed by visits from McCain and Palin today and tomorrow. It will be interesting to see the strategies they use to rebut Obama's campaign in favor of their own ticket.

Obama Pulls Ahead in Polls

2008-09-29T18:42:00.000-07:00

Following the first presidential debate on Friday, Barack Obama has taken a significant lead in the polls, especially in key battleground states like Colorado. MSNBC reports that the "New numbers from CNN/Time/Opinion Research show Obama up 51% to 45% among registered voters in Colorado, up from a 5-point deficit for the Illinois senator last month."

So why is Obama pulling so far ahead? Perhaps this is because voters generally trust Obama to handle the economic crisis that we are now facing as a nation. Whatever the reason, if McCain doesn't pick up his game, he could be facing a long, uphill battle.

Colorado Campaign Strategies

2008-09-29T18:22:00.000-07:00

Both Obama and McCain are pouring resources into Colorado. Their campaigns are micro-targeting specific voter constituencies in order to maximize their outcome on election day. Campaign spokespersons for both candidates have been releasing strategy statements to the press.

PolitikerCO.com reports, "Barack Obama's Colorado campaign is targeting independent suburban voters, Latinos in the southern part of the state and voters in traditionally Republican areas, Obama senior strategist Robert Gibbs said Thursday, according to the Denver Post.
Meanwhile, John McCain's campaign is also focusing on winning over Latinos and is putting resources in the Denver Metro area, said political director Mike DuHaime, according to the Post."

These statements highlight the importance the importance of Colorado as a highly contested battleground state for both camapaigns.

Palin to Visit Colorado

2008-09-29T18:19:00.000-07:00

While Obama made a visit to Colorado today, GOP Vice-Presidential candidate Sarah Palin will also be returning to Colorado soon. She will be hosting a private fundraiser in Centennial, right outside of Denver. This event is currently scheduled for October 4. More to come soon!

Obama to Visit!

2008-09-29T08:17:00.000-07:00

Barack Obama will make a campaign stop in Westminster, CO today. He will be speaking at Mountain Range High School. Discussion topics for the event include Obama's signature change speech and also his economic plan. The event is free and open to the public but tickets were given out due to limited seating. The tickets sold out days ago for the highly anticipated event. Rumor has it that Michelle Obama will be following in Barack's footsteps with a campaign trip of her own in Colorado this Wednesday.

NRA Aiming for Obama in Colorado

2008-09-23T15:01:00.000-07:00

The National Rifle Association will begin airing anti-Obama advertisements in Colorado this week. Specifically, the advertisements will attack Obama's voting record favoring anti-gun laws. The Colorado Independent reports from an interview with NRA spokeswoman Rachel Parsons, “ 'Now that we’ve started, it won’t stop until after the election.' The ads are running in Colorado, New Mexico and Pennsylvania, she said, as part of a 'very large, comprehensive campaign.' ” These ads will soon spread to other states where the NRA has pinpointed target audiences. All of the campaigns will end with “On November 4th, defend freedom. Defeat Obama,” and direct viewers to the NRA’s anti-Obama site.

Let's Talk Money

2008-09-23T14:44:00.000-07:00

The results of August campaign donations from Colorado are in and Obama is in the lead. The Rocky Mountain News reports that overall, at the end of August, Obama raised $1.4 million to McCain's $1.1 million. Donations statewide jumped greatly the day and day after McCain chose Palin as a running mate. While the Democratic party holds that this jump is due to the outrage that party members feel towards what they deem as a "cynical pick," Republicans claim figures jumped because Palin reinvigorated the party base and frightened the Dem challengers.

In addition to money flowing out of the state of Colorado, the campaigns are also pumping money into the state as well. Whether in the form of advertising, campaign visits, or get-out-the-vote efforts, both campaigns know that Colorado is going to be of the utmost importance in who becomes the next president of the United States. The Sun Times reports that the Obama campaigns most recent records show that on August 22 the campaign wrote a $200,000 check to the Colorado Democrats. As the campaign marches forward, the checks are sure to grow in amount and frequency.

Ground Teams Work to Get-Out-The-Vote in CO

2008-09-23T14:11:00.000-07:00

The Coloradoan reports that Obama is narrowly leading John McCain with 49% to 45%. With the critical state remaining so close, both campaigns have upped their ground forces in order to get-out-the-vote.

In Aspen, the Obama campaign efforts have hit an all time high. The Aspen Daily News reports, "The overwhelmingly Democratic-voting Pitkin County (Aspen included) — where Democratic candidate John Kerry received more than twice as many votes as President George W. Bush in 2004 — is being targeted as a voting sector that can put Obama over the top for Colorado’s nine electoral votes. Because any vote from this area is most likely a vote for Obama, his local boosters are focused primarily on registering as many locals as they can." Obama campaign workers have been canvasing the county on foot armed with voter registration cards and campaign literature. Similarly, the McCain campaign has been boosting their ground work as well.

With the VP nomination of Sarah Palin, the Coloradoan Republican base has been reinvigorated. It is because of this reason that the McCain campaign has been working hard to recruit the female vote in Colorado. Additionally, other women candidates running for office in the state are hoping to either align themselves with the Palin image or stand in contrast to it.

The Rocky Mountain News is covering the House District 31 race in which a female Democratic candidate is being challenged by Holly Hansen, a first time Republican candidate. Hansen's get-out-the-vote strategy is to go door-to-door advocating the McCain-Palin ticket and, in a way, likening herself to the VP nod. "Hansen, a 35-year-old working mother of two making her first run for office, has gone to homes where unaffiliated female residents said they have never voted Republican but are open to considering GOP candidates. 'Outside the political spectrum, people like me are looking for role models. I think her candidacy will energize young suburban moms to get out and vote and support local candidates,' Hansen said. 'I think Sarah Palin kind of gives permission to some of those disenfranchised women who have felt that the party was out of touch to come back and look at the party again.' "

New Mexico Gov Endorses Obama in Colorado

2008-09-23T13:54:00.000-07:00

This past weekend New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson (D) hit the campaign trail in Colorado in favor of Barack Obama. The Examiner reports that Richardson visited Greeley, Pueblo and Alamosa, weaving Spanish into all of his speeches. Obviously, this supports the new strategies implemented by the Obama campaign to lock down the critical Hispanic vote in Colorado. It seems that the Obama campaign is banking on the vote of minority groups and Democrats within the metropolitan areas of the state to ensure his victory come November.

Latest Polls Show Obama Taking the Lead

2008-09-21T16:34:00.000-07:00

Top News reports that Obama is taking back the lead in Colorado.

Allstate/National Journal/FD’s Obama vs McCain CO Poll, conducted between September 11-15, showed Obama leading McCain by 1 % — 45 % to 44 % among the registered voters of Colorado.

Insider Advantage/Poll Position’s McCain vs Obama CO Poll, conducted on September 17, showed Obama leading McCain by 10 % — 51 % to 41 % among the registered voters of Colorado.

Colorado Dubbed "Ground Zero" for Obama Campaign

2008-09-21T16:03:00.000-07:00

The Obama campaign understands the important role that Colorado is going to play in the upcoming Presidential Election. Obama's campaign manager David Plouffe told supporters that Colorado could make all the difference on election day. Plouffe even went as far as to proclaim Colorado "ground zero" of the Obama campaign. As of polling on September 19, statewide polls showed McCain pulling ahead of Obama by 2% points. Both candidates understand that get out the vote efforts in the state are going to be crucial come election day. The last numbers released by Colorado's own Rocky Mountain News say that Obama has 30 campaign offices across the state.

McCain Reinforcing the Troops in Colorado

2008-09-18T16:08:00.002-07:00

John McCain has opened up another volunteer headquarters in Fort Collins, CO following the visit of running mate Sarah Palin last week. This is part of McCain's new get-out-the-vote effort in one of the elections most important battleground states. Fort Collins Now reports "McCain Colorado spokesman Tom Kise said the campaign has 10 offices, including the one in Fort Collins, and is working with 13 county party offices acting as satellite offices. 'We’ve got a very aggressive (get-out-the-vote) program, aggressively reaching out to people through phones, person-to-person contact,' he said. 'We’re doing that through targeted efforts, making sure we’re finding people how they live, who they are, versus just a shotgun approach of walking down the street and talking to every person on the street.' Volunteers and organizers are working every day," he said.

This new effort is probably an attempt to match the amount of effort Barack Obama has been putting into turning Colorado blue. Obama already has a large ground force in Fort Collins and many other places in Colorado as well.

Obama Fights for the Hispanic Vote in Colorado

2008-09-18T16:08:00.001-07:00

In response to several Spanish speaking television and radio ads that McCain put out in Colorado, Nevada, and New Mexico last week, Obama will launch his own Spanish advertisements this week. While McCain's ads accuse Obama of being anti-immigration reform, Obama's new adds will accuse McCain of alienating the Hispanic population.

The Washington Post realeased the text of Obama's new TV ad. The content is as follows:
"They want us to forget the insults we've put up with, the intolerance," the television ad's announcer says in Spanish as a picture of Rush Limbaugh appears onscreen with quotes of him saying, "Mexicans are stupid and unqualified" and "Shut your mouth or get out.""They made us feel marginalized in a country we love so much," the ad continues.
"John McCain and his Republican friends have two faces. One that says lies just to get our vote and another, even worse, that continues the failed policies of George Bush that put special interests ahead of working families."

These counter-advertisements will begin running this week with the full support of the Obama campaign and Democratic leaders amongst the Hispanic community.

Republicans Doing There Best to Keep Colorado Red

2008-09-17T10:20:00.000-07:00

Colorado news publication Fort Collins Now ran an article claiming that Colorado is a battleground state in which the McCain-Palin ticket still has a strong chance to win. Despite the state's red history, the past presidential races have always been too close for comfort between Democratic and Republican candidates. Republican consultants in Colorado say that when it comes down to the actual vote, Obama and Biden's voting records will be too liberal to sway the general population of Colorado. They claim that the only Democratic success in the state has gone to those members of the Congress and the State Legislature that run on a moderate Democratic ticket. So, while Colorado reamains too close to call, Republican optimists still believe that in the end, it will be a Red state once again.
http://www.fortcollinsnow.com/article/20080916/NEWS/809169970/1026&ParentProfile=

Republicans Gather to Diminish the Impact of Obama's Visits

2008-09-16T20:15:00.000-07:00

The Denver Post released this news report yesterday that "Former Colorado Governor Bill Owens and State Representative Amy Stephens (R-El Paso) will hold a conference call discussing Barack Obama's visit to Colorado and explain why the Obama-Biden ticket is out of step with Western values." This press conference follows on the heels of Obama's visits earlier this week. More to come tomorrow on the highlights of the event.

50 DAYS TO GO!!!

2008-09-15T10:29:00.000-07:00

Here is a break down of how Colorado is looking 5o days before the election:

Current Status: Neck and Neck between Obama and McCain, at this point it's Too Close to Call
Current Polling: Obama leading McCain 46.9% to 46.5%
Previous Election Results: 2004-Republican (George W. Bush), 2000-Republican (George W. Bush), 1996-Republican (Bob Dole), 1992-Democrat (Bill Clinton)
Key Issues: Economy, Energy Independence, Environment
Other Influential Races on the Ticket: Ken Salazar (D) up for re-election to the Senate

A Swing State to Watch

2008-09-12T10:26:00.000-07:00

Colorado is definitely a swing state to watch this election cycle. Although the DNC was held in the state's capitol city of Denver, the race for the state's 9 electoral votes is still alarmingly close. According to politico.com, Colorado is a swing state leaning slightly in favor of Obama, but the state has not favored a Democratic candidate since 1964. With this history and the attention that the media has been focusing on GOP Vice-Presidential Candidate Sarah Palin, Colorado is becoming quickly becoming a key battleground state. With McCain pulling ahead in the general polls, a couple of percentage points difference may be too close for comfort in Colorado.

In the weeks ahead, both Obabama and McCain will be focusing more and more attention on this battleground state. Obama's trip to Colorado on Monday was his first since the DNC's close, but will surely be the first of many to come as the election draws near. Meanwhile, McCain has been gearing up with anti-Obama adds that will run, but has announced no immediate plans to return to Colorado as of today.