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Udall leads Schaffer in Colorado U.S. Senate poll

By Lynn Bartels, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published September 24, 2008 at 12:05 a.m.

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The same polling group that found Senate candidates Mark Udall and Bob Schaffer in a dead heat in July now says that the Democrat has an 8-point lead, in part because of the souring economy.

Udall tops Schaffer 48 percent to 40 percent, according to the poll, which was taken at the same time news about taxpayer bailouts of Wall Street rocked the nation.

The economy is the most important issue in the election, 51 percent of Colorado voters say.

"Certainly the Wall Street meltdown helped Democrats," said Peter Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute in Connecticut. "With a lousy economy, an unpopular war and an even less popular Republican president, it's difficult to find voters who don't want change."

The poll, released Tuesday, is jointly run by Quinnipiac, washingtonpost.com and The Wall Street Journal.

The poll of 1,418 Coloradans was conducted from Sept. 14 through Sunday, and has a margin of error of 2.6 percentage points.

Brown said that even without Wall Street's woes serving as a backdrop, Udall did well. He had more support from fellow Democrats than Schaffer had from fellow Republicans, and Udall led among women by 19 percent.

"When Democrats win elections in states like Colorado they win because they lead among independents, hold even among men and win big among women," Brown said. "That's what's happening."

bartels@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-5327

Tracking the U.S. Senate race

A polling group that in July showed Republican Bob Schaffer and Democrat Mark Udall in a dead heat now has Udall leading the U.S. Senate race.

TOTAL

Udall 48%

Schaffer 40%

REPUBLICANS

Udall 13%

Schaffer 80%

DEMOCRATS

Udall 86%

Schaffer 8%

UNAFFILIATED

Udall 49%

Schaffer 31%

WOMEN

Udall 53%

Schaffer 34%

MEN

Udall 44%

Schaffer 46%

Comments

  • September 24, 2008

    12:49 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    SL10 writes:

    Good.

  • September 24, 2008

    9:32 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    RachCox writes:

    Not good. Not good at all. I don’t understand why voters feel more confident about democrats when the economy is sour. Especially because democrats, like Mark Udall and Barack Obama, don’t support workers’ rights. Instead they want bills like the Employee Free Choice Act to pass and therefore strip workers of their right to a private ballot vote when deciding whether or not to unionize. For my sake, and the sake of Coloradans, I hope our economy turns around before November, so that we elect Bob Schaffer as our next senator.

  • September 24, 2008

    10:08 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    SL10 writes:

    RachCox, do not hold your breath. Thanks to Bush and from years of a GOP Congress screw ups, many of GOP hopefuls will lose this election. lol. Thank God for small miracles. Plus, Dems are not about restricting workers rights that is a GOP thing.

  • September 24, 2008

    10:27 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    Ian74 writes:

    How are republicans restricting workers’ rights? Do you know anything about the card check bill which democrats, like Udall, are going to pass if elected? Maybe you should check out www.unionfacts.com and get your facts straight.

  • September 24, 2008

    10:32 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    RachCox writes:

    SL10 - If only Colorado voters (like you) would realize where Mark Udall allegiance is! His allegiance is to union bosses and funding unions and not the people of Colorado. Mark Udall hopes to take away the right to vote from workers who are trying to decide whether or not to form a union. Isn’t our country founded on the principal of the private vote??? If yes, then why is Mark Udall trying to do away with it? Maybe, just maybe, because unions help fund his campaigns?!

  • September 24, 2008

    11:47 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    SL10 writes:

    Okay, I will say this between Schaffer and Udall. I would rather have Udall in office than Schaffer between the two evils. Plus, Dems have denied this spin is true. Also the GOP receive donations from unions just an FYI here. Lastly, I do not care for unions being my mom was screw over by the federal civil service union back in the '80s. So, unions in my opinion are a waste.

  • September 24, 2008

    12:14 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    SL10 writes:

    From what I am reading on Card Check is just a way to prevent fraud in an election. No more different then me showing my ID at the election office. Or is there more spin to this.

  • September 24, 2008

    1:38 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    OutsideObserver writes:

    From what I hear and read, Card Check does not sound good... It sounds to me like it is a way for union bosses to find out who their enemies are, and do their best to make their lives a living hell in the union. Unfortunately, there is a chance of having a Senator from our state that supports this... The more I learn about Udall the less I like him, and the more dangerous he sounds. Now to hear that he is supporting the misnamed Employee Free Choice Act just futher confirms my distrust of him. Hopefully we'll be lucky enough for him to lose this election, and get out of politics.

  • September 24, 2008

    3:58 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    BurgandyWine writes:

    SL10, you've got your facts wrong a bit. Card check is a way of organizing a union. Currently, under law workers can organize by having a majority sign a document saying they want to unionize. They can also do it under a private ballot.

    However, if workers use card check, employers can reject their wishes.

    EFCA requires that management has to recognize BOTH methods as legitimate.

  • September 24, 2008

    8:34 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    MilesUnltd writes:

    Go look at the numbers...the economy and the stock market have ALWAYS performed better under the dems.

  • September 24, 2008

    10:01 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    SL10 writes:

    My last comment here on card check. Like I said I am not care about unions. Card Check has not become law yet. But, the best course is to petition all Congressional leaders to not pass the law. I mean either Udall or Schaffer could vote yes to the legislation.. Instead of posting on a blog. Start writing letters or make phone calls. This process worked in keeping Bush from privatizing SSA. Lastly, I am still voting for Udall regardless of card check. I can not vote for Schaffer cause he does not support vets. I am a disabled vet and I need candidates that support vets health care and Udall does this well.

  • September 24, 2008

    10:20 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    ConservativeCO writes:

    Who would want a looney Boulder liberal representing Colorado?

  • September 25, 2008

    11:37 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    SL10 writes:

    Same can be said about Schaffer representing Colorado.