Eric Kleefeld March 12, 2010, 10:22 AM

The new survey of Colorado from Public Policy Polling (D) shows Democratic Sen. Michael Bennet in a close race. This is itself an improvement from most other polls, which have shown him running behind his Republican opponents.

When tested against three Republican candidates, Bennet is tied 43%-43% against former Lt. Gov. Jane Norton, leads Weld County District Attorney Ken Buck by 46%-40%, and leads state Sen. Tom Wiens by 45%-37%. The TPM Poll Average has Norton ahead of Bennet by 46%.1-41.0%.

The poll also has Bennet’s challenger in the Democratic primary, former state House Speaker Andrew Romanoff, running stronger than Bennet. Romanoff leads Norton by 44%-39%, leads Buck by 44%-36%, and is ahead of Wiens by 34%. The TPM Poll Average has Romanoff ahead of Norton by 43.3%-41.4%.

PPP’s Tom Jensen writes: “I would be cautious about declaring Romanoff to be the more electable candidate based on these early numbers though. Bennet has had all the negatives of incumbency - being associated with an unpopular majority party during a recession - without the positives - defining himself positively to the voters on the airwaves in the context of a statewide campaign.”

The last PPP survey of Colorado was conducted way back in August 2009, before Norton got in the race. At the time, Bennet led Buck by 39%0-35%, and trailed former Rep. Bob Beauprez (who eventually opted against a run) by 42%-39%.

“Republicans really haven’t been helped by getting Jane Norton in the race,” writes PPP president Dean Debnam. “Michael Bennet’s actually polling a little better against her than he was against Bob Beauprez last summer. This is likely to be one of the closest races in the country this fall.”

2010 elections, Andrew Romanoff, CO-SEN, Jane Norton, Ken Buck, Michael Bennet, Senate '10, Tom Wiens