Little has changed during the past month in Colorado’s gubernatorial race, with Republican Scott McInnis continuing to hold a modest lead over Democratic Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper.
The latest Rasmussen Reports statewide telephone survey of likely voters shows McInnis with 47 percent support to Hickenlooper’s 41 percent. Six percent prefer some other candidate, while another 6 percent are undecided.
The Republican’s advantage had held at 48 percent to 42 percent in both March and April, but McInnis’ inability to cross the 50 percent mark suggests that the race remains up for grabs, Rasmussen says.
In February, after Hickenlooper formally entered the race following incumbent Democratic Gov. Bill Ritter's surprise announcement that he would not seek reelection, he posted a 49 percent-to-45-percent lead over McInnis. The GOP ex-congressman held a three-point lead over Hickenlooper in a hypothetical match-up in January.
In December, before Ritter quit the race, McInnis led the incumbent governor 48 percent to 40 percent.
The survey of 500 likely voters in Colorado was conducted on May 11.
McInnis leads among male voters, but the race is virtually tied among women.
Voters not affiliated with either major party in the state give the edge to the Republican.
Seventeen percent of Colorado voters have a very favorable opinion of McInnis, while 16 percent view him very unfavorably.
Hickenlooper is viewed very favorably by 25 percent and very unfavorably by 22 percent.
At this point in a campaign, Rasmussen Reports considers the number of people with strong opinions more significant than the total favorable/unfavorable numbers.
On another issue, despite the growing oil slick from the offshore oil rig disaster in the Gulf of Mexico, 60 percent of Colorado voters think offshore oil drilling should be allowed. But 65 percent are at least somewhat concerned that it will cause environmental problems.
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