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GOP regains lead on Colorado voter rolls

Tillie Fongand Burt Hubbard, Rocky Mountain News

Published September 5, 2008 at 12:05 a.m.

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Unaffiliated voters' reign as the top voting bloc in Colorado was short-lived.

A new report by the Colorado Secretary of State's Office shows the Republican Party regained a slight voting edge in July after losing it the month before.

"I think the Republican Party is coming back alive," said Dick Wadhams, chairman of the Colorado Republicans.

"Our phones at the Republican Party are ringing off the hook. I think this is what we will see between now and the end of the year."

But those aren't the only phones ringing. Democratic Party registration grew at three times the rate of the Republican Party.

At the end of July, there were 1,024,504 Coloradans registered as Republicans compared with 1,022,376 who listed themselves as unaffiliateds. That's a difference of 2,128.

Democrats trailed with 946,277 registered voters.

There were 3,007,783 registered voters, both active and inactive, in July.

In June, unaffiliated voters became the largest voting group in almost two decades.

Wadhams said the addition of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin to the national ticket will drive Republican registration up.

But Democrats added the most new voters between June and July with a net gain of 13,674. That compares with a gain of 4,071 Republicans and 397 unaffiliateds.

Bill Compton, political director for the Colorado Democratic Party, said "the real story" was in the gains that the Democrats made.

"The Republicans have gained a slight edge over the unaffilateds, but the Democratic Party has increased by 14,000," he said.

Comments

  • September 5, 2008

    1:33 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    jax writes:

    Only hours before McCain accepts his party's nomination in what will likely be the most-viewed moment thus far of his presidential bid, the race is knotted at 42 percent apiece, with 12 percent of voters stating that they are undecided, according to CBS. Obama was ahead 48 percent to 40 percent by CBS’ measure following the Democratic convention.

    Other polls have failed to show the same tightening of the race found by CBS. Neither the Gallup or Rasmussen daily tracking polls have registered a significant drop in Obama’s support from his post-convention bounce numbers. The Gallup tracking poll, for example, still has Obama ahead of McCain 49 percent to 42 percent.
    CBS’s findings from Monday to Wednesday — covering the early days of the Republican convention — is particularly noteworthy because generally Obama runs stronger in the CBS poll than in other surveys.

    This week’s poll marks the first time since the beginning of the general election in June that CBS has found that support for McCain matched that for his opponent. In early August, when other polls showed an exact tie or even a McCain lead, CBS still had Obama ahead by three percentage points.

    CBS polling concluded Wednesday, so it does not include any effect from last night’s speech by Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin.

    ************

    Gee, guess what it'll be after they do the count after Palin's speech and McCain's speech. Better watch out Obama supporters, the tides may be ah-changin' and the Messiah may not be so popular after all. Hmmmm...

  • September 5, 2008

    5:41 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    HolierThanThou writes:

    I'm a registered Republican. Sadly, much of the party has turned its back on the principles supported by Abraham Lincoln and his tradition. I support a number of our local people. I vote for them in the primary. It's too bad the good people in the Republican Party are only local.

    On the national level, it seems that garbage floats to the top of the Republican Party. They talk big talk about limited government and then blow billions expanding the worst aspects of government. I'd feel better if we spent it to help the average American. Instead, the party is run by warmongers who would cheerfully waste a trillion dollars to blow some goat-herders on the other side of the globe to Kingdom Come. Even worse, they're creating a police state here.

    Americans are beginning to awaken to the fact that totalitarian Republicans of the Bush league have been taking our country the wrong way since the 1980s. It's time to put them away. There are golden opportunities in doing so for pragmatic Republicans to replace the non-working conservatism, religious nut-jobs, and warmongers with Americans who will put serving the American people ahead of broken ideologies.

    This is an historic opportunity to reform the Republican Party from the inside out.

    Obama 08

  • September 5, 2008

    6:10 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    malis writes:

    Dang, I changed from 'Unaffiliated' to Republican in July, in order to vote Doug Bruce out in the Primary (You're Welcome!)...and haven't gotten around to switching back yet.

    Seems that might have been common enough statewide to account for the "2,128" difference. I promise, I'll get over to the County Clerk's office and switch back.

  • September 5, 2008

    6:44 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    Sixtysixdeuce writes:

    HolierThanThou-

    Many Republicans agree that the party has abandoned us. I used to be an R, back when it meant something.

    We do need a move back to a government of the people, by the people and for the people. But Obama is not the answer. Bob Barr is.

    Barr/Root '08!

  • September 5, 2008

    7:32 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    ssquared writes:

    MG -

    Me as well.

  • September 5, 2008

    9:34 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    NotUrFriend writes:

    I found McCain's Speech humble, and honest. I look forward to seeing how he performs in states' where the GOP are currently lagging behind the Dems. If he continues this way I can easily seeing more undecided voters falling in line.

    When you remove the glamour and glitter from Obama's speech you find less substance and no real detail on his plans for the nation.

    I.

  • September 5, 2008

    10:41 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    NotUrFriend writes:

    (A campaign stop in Texas, By the Obama Campaign)

    Obama stood confidently in front of the crowd, and spoke in a voice both commanding and merciful:

    “My fellow Americans…You may of heard silly rumors about myself, and the power to which I stand….”

    (Loud applause and cheering)

    “McCain may have been a Prison of War …..”

    (Loud Boos)

    “But I challenge my mortal, elderly foe to do this…”

    As the crowd stands back in awe and dumbfounded silence, Obama slowly rises off the ground. At first, mere inch’s, but soon the gulf between multiplied into feet, yards, and beyond. Soon Obama stood, defying gravity and the centuries of developed physics, nearly a quarter mile above the ground. At that moment above the Earth there appear two suns, but the new sun grow brighter in glare and the frightened voter’s below averted they’re gaze, unable to witness the brilliance above.

    “Vote for Obama!!” Boomed a voice that shook the very Earth below “Or witness my wrath!”

    Several loud cracks filled the air and a sharp electrical current seemed to flow between the voters, shattered by loud shrieks of terror.

    When at long last the voters were able to open they’re eyes, several spots of spoiled, burnt Earth surrounded them.

    “These” The Messiah pointed “we’re Republican scum.”

    Slowly, and with a great sense of fear about them, the herd began to nod. At first one, than two, than a dozen. Within moments, tens of thousands were nodding at their Messiah.

    Vote Obama ’08!

    This guy could order a BIG MAC ™ at Burger King….He’s that tough.

    I.

  • September 5, 2008

    12:37 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    NotUrFriend writes:

    Hey!

    I got selected on www.MyFoxColorado.com to be on they're select community blog pages. :)

    http://community.myfoxcolorado.com/bl...

    Coolies.

    I.

  • September 5, 2008

    1:29 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    NotUrFriend writes:

    http://community.myfoxcolorado.com/bl...

    Isaac

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