Ken Buck’s polling lead has diminished in the past week–a difficult string of days that began with an attack on Buck’s prosecutorial record of an alleged rape case, and continued with Sunday’s “Meet the Press” comments on homosexuality–but it is a lead he has not relinquished, according to a new Reuters/Ipsos poll showing Buck leading Sen. Michael Bennet with likely voters, 48 to 45. Buck led 49 to 40 in a poll done by the same outfit nearly two months ago immediately following the August 10 primary.
The poll indicated Republicans held an advantage in voting certainty (“likelihood”) and party affinity, with likely voters breaking 51 to 40 for Republicans over Democrats. Bennet leads Buck 48 to 42 among registered voters, with the independents also leaning his way in this poll, 28 to 21.
In the gubernatorial race, Denver Mayor John Hickelooper continues to hover in the mid-40s, leading American Constitution Party candidate Tom Tancredo 46 to 35, with Republican Dan Maes trailing badly at 14 percent. Two months ago, a similar poll by Reuters/Ipsos showed Hickenlooper at 41 percent, and had Tancredo and Maes almost entirely flipped, with 16 and 33 percent, respectively.
Overall, the economy and jobs remains the “biggest problem” facing Colorado, with 55 percent of respondents citing the issue.
The polling also broke down responses to various issues, and asked whether Buck or Bennet “has the right policies.” Buck edged Bennet on taxes and immigration, while Bennet was favored on health care, and by a wide margin, on the subject of abortion.
Colorado remains strongly favorable to the Tea Party, with 62 percent self-identifying with the “ideals” of the movement at any level.