Suffolk University Poll of Colorado: Obama 47% McCain: 43%

[WI_DEM]

10/14/2008

With just three weeks left before the presidential election, voters in the swing state of Colorado are giving the Democratic ticket of Barack Obama and Joe Biden a 4 point lead (47-43) over the Republican ticket of John McCain and Sarah Palin, according to a poll released today by Suffolk University. The most recent polls taken by other pollsters had shown the Obama lead between 6-10 points.

"Despite a small Obama lead, Colorado is up for grabs,” said David Paleologos, director of the Political Research Center at Suffolk University in Boston. "When the history of this election is written, one common thread will be how voters have repeatedly up-ended the conventional wisdom.”

Libertarian Party nominee Bob Barr polled 1 percent and Independent Ralph Nader secured 2 percent, while 6 percent of voters surveyed were undecided. There are 16 candidates for president listed on the Colorado ballot.

Those optimistic about the economy next year favor John McCain by a 49 percent to 44 percent margin while those who believe the economy will get worse next year support Obama 48 percent to 37 percent.

Overall, Colorado voters appear to be optimistic about the economy looking ahead to next year. Exactly 49 percent said the economy will get better next year and just 31 percent said worse, while 7 percent said it will stay the same and 12 percent were undecided.

"The 4 percent Obama lead includes a 20 percent lead among independents," said Paleologos. "If McCain can convince Colorado independents that there is bi-partisan hope at the end of the economic tunnel, he will close the overall margin in the state. If Obama makes the presidential election a referendum on the current state of the economy, he will extend his lead."

More Colorado respondents are now comfortable with the thought of a President Obama versus a President McCain. Despite personal preferences, when voters were asked to define their comfort level, 43 percent said they were extremely or very comfortable with Barack Obama while just 30 percent said the same about John McCain. In addition, 34 percent said they were not at all comfortable with Obama, but 37 percent were not at all comfortable with McCain.

http://www.suffolk.edu/31363.html