Poll: Appointed Dem Senator Bennet Off To Shaky Start In Colorado For 2010
A new survey of Colorado from Public Policy Polling (D) shows appointed Sen. Michael Bennet in a potentially tough situation going into his 2010 campaign, though he could still have some room to grow.
Bennet's approval is at only 34%, with 41% disapproval and a high undecided number. When matched against former GOP Rep. Bob Beauprez, who was also the 2006 nominee for governor, Beauprez gets 43% to Bennet's 42%. Bennet leads 39%-35% to Aurora City Councilman Ryan Frazier 39%-35%; he leads Weld County District Attorney Ken Buck 40%-34%; and he leads state Senate Minority Leader Josh Penry 41%-34%.
"These numbers for Michael Bennet are not very good," said PPP president Dean Debnam, in the polling memo. "The good news for him is that he still hasn't had the opportunity to define himself the way he wants to the voters in a campaign, and when he has the opportunity to do that next year he may fare better than he is now."
Josh
Matt
Eric
These polls don't mean anything since most people don't even know who Bennett is. PPP also had Obama with a 49% approval rating in CO and Udhall with a 41% approval rating.
April 22, 2009 12:27 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm leary of this poll. It also shows Obama receives approval from 49% of voters with 45% dissenting. So in the country as a whole, Obama has gained about 10% more on his approval ratings than those who actually voted for him. But in Colorado, he has LOST about 5%?? Highly suspicious. Why would Colorado be that different from the rest of the country?
April 22, 2009 12:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
I agree with you, looks like there's something wrong with their sampling.
April 22, 2009 1:01 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yes, good point. Consider also that Obama, as with any Democrat, tends to do slightly better in approval polls than with actual voters this really makes no sense at all.
In my little part of intensely far-right Colorado the number of Obama bumper stickers is huge, even outnumbering the tea-party, "Nobama" style bumper stickers.
One other point is that there is a large "don't know" in this poll for Bennett. Given that a) the poll sample seems skewed Republican, and b) that there is a solid 3rd of this state that would vote for Satan before voting for a Democrat (in fact, in my Congressional district I think they did), I don't see problems with that 41% disapproval.
Bennett does need to get in the news a bit in terms of Colorado issues over the next 12 months -- then he'll be fine.
April 22, 2009 1:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
Obama's down, so is Udall
April 22, 2009 1:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
In actuality, he's probably not. National polls remain unchanged and PPP has a history of releasing erratic outliers.
April 22, 2009 3:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
I have to say... I live in Colorado, I vote in Colorado, I follow Colorado politcs. I don't know shit about this guy. What I do know, I like, but if I know so little, the average voter knows literally nothing. I wonder how many of those polled even realized we had a Senator by that name prior to the polling. He's had a few months, but he's got a year. Hopefully he'll make a headline or two. Salazar was well-liked in the state and it'll be harder to win this seat without him, but I definitely think it's doable.
April 22, 2009 1:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
His refusal to support EFCA means I will give money to a primary opponent.
I hope he fails big time.
April 22, 2009 1:50 PM | Reply | Permalink
The argument that Bennet still has a year and will thus improve is flawed: (1) We have no idea whether this guy has any campaign skills, (2) that means that the GOP will also have a chance at defining him and (3) someone like Frazier will also have a year to introduce himself.
April 22, 2009 1:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
PPP polls are so erratic, they're starting to threatens ARG's place as the go-to firm for convenient outliers.
April 22, 2009 3:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
Bill Ritter (former Denver DA and now Governor) was not well known throughout the state in 2004 and he beat Bob Beauprez 54% - 39% in 2006 for Governor. He is a Republican hack and lacks much credibility in the state. He is basically a talk radio guy on KOA radio and you can't get much more RED than that.
Michael Bennet still has a lot to prove, but I think the moderates will like him once they get to know him. I prefer someone more liberal, but, so far, he is better than Salazar.
April 22, 2009 10:09 PM | Reply | Permalink