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Gov. Ritter on a roll in latest polls

But several challenges lie ahead as legislature focuses on taxing issues

Chris Barge, Rocky Mountain News

Published September 27, 2007 at midnight

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The honeymoon continues for Gov. Bill Ritter, whose favorability rating is hovering close to 70 percent, according to two recent polls.

But pollsters and the state's Republican party chair agree that the Democrat's seemingly Teflon skin could be tested soon as lawmakers grapple with a slate of issues that could lead to tax hikes.

"It's clear that Gov. Ritter is extremely popular and that his numbers are pretty close to some of the highest that we've seen from any governor in this state," said Rick Ridder, a Democratic consultant whose firm, RBI Strategies & Research, polled 500 likely voters in late August. "He's not only quite popular, but there is an essence that he has been an effective governor."

After less than a year in office, Ritter is viewed favorably by 66 percent of voters, and unfavorably by 18 percent, according to the RBI poll.

In a separate poll to be released in a couple of weeks, independent Denver pollster and political consultant Floyd Ciruli said he found the governor's approval ratings hovering above 70 percent.

"He's still on a honeymoon," Ciruli said. "He's on a great roll."

Ritter's numbers are higher than Republican Gov. Bill Owens' were at any time in his administration other than, perhaps, right after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, Ciruli said.

The polls suggest that the new governor has weathered GOP attacks that he is too cozy with unions and wants to raise taxes.

Ritter's veto last session of House Bill 1072, which would have made it easier for unions to organize, helped him continue to lay claim to his reputation as business-minded Democrat, unburdened by the baggage of his party's machinery, Ciruli said.

The former Denver district attorney also won points for handling himself well in the wake of the gunman who was shot in front of his office this summer, Ciruli added.

Both pollsters agreed that Ritter's biggest challenge lies ahead, as the legislature takes up health care reform, transportation, higher education and a full menu of other issues that may lead to higher taxes.

Colorado Republican Party chairman Dick Wadhams said Coloradans, who tend to give new governors the benefit of the doubt, are just waking up to how they will be affected by the property tax freeze that the legislature passed last session. That and the other tax hikes that may be pondered add up to "a potential time bomb for Gov. Ritter and the Democratic legislature," Wadhams said.

Ritter's spokesman said the governor has earned his high approval ratings by taking on renewable energy, transportation, health care and education. "I think the kind of partisan attacks that have come from a few state house Republicans don't resonate, because the issues that people care about are the issues that Gov. Ritter is addressing," Evan Dreyer said.

The RBI poll also asked about the presidential race, and found that, in Colorado, both Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama would match up tightly against Rudy Giuliani in head-to-head races, and that the Democratic front-runners would beat former Mass. Gov. Mitt Romney.

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