CO GOP Split in Rasmussen Gubernatorial Poll: Hickenlooper 46, Tancredo 25, Maes 21

Pollster’s tracker with latest Rasmussen Reports poll

Rasmussen Reports’ newest Colorado gubernatorial poll has Denver mayor John Hickenlooper with a commanding lead over Tom Tancredo of the American Constitution Party and the Republican Dan Maes, 46 to 25 to 21 percent.

The poll of likely voters conducted September 12 shows that the 20 percent of undecideds in their late August poll have begun to move towards Hickenlooper and Tancredo, with both picking up double-digit surges (10 and 11 percent, respectively). Hickenlooper’s favorability continues to stay in positive territory, with 56 percent, while Tancredo (42 percent) and Maes (just 34 percent approval) have sizeable unfavorability ratings above 50 percent.

Hickenlooper is cruising on 88-percent support from his own party, while Maes and Tancredo split the GOP and conservative vote, 46 to 36 percent. Unaffiliated voters are breaking for Hickenlooper (41 percent) and Tancredo (32 percent), leaving Maes with a paltry 17 percent of Colorado’s largest voting bloc (by total registration).

Hickenlooper and Maes faced off in Grand Junction on Saturday at the Club 20 debates, covering a wide range of statewide issues, including a contentious exchange over illegal immigration. Tancredo was prohibited from participating in the debate and protested outside.

Battle ‘10 has the complete, exclusive podcast of the gubernatorial debate.

Maes has suggested that a 20-percent threshold be satisfied for candidate participation in this fall’s debates — and now finds himself “perilously close” to that level. Meanwhile, Tancredo has backed out of a scheduled debate and a candidate forum, citing scheduling conflicts.