CO-Sen: Bennet Numbers Not Strong, But Little Changed from April

[ccharles000]

Public Policy Polling (PDF) (registered voters, 8/14-16, 4/17-19 in parens):

Michael Bennet (D-inc): 39 (42)
Bob Beauprez (R): 42 (43)
Undecided: 19 (16)

Michael Bennet (D-inc): 38 (39)
Ryan Frazier (R): 33 (35)
Undecided: 30 (26)

Michael Bennet (D-inc): 39 (40)
Ken Buck (R): 35 (34)
Undecided: 26 (26)
(MoE: ±3.2%)

Tom Jensen:

Michael Bennet's approval rating is just as bad as it was when we polled Colorado in April but voters in the state don't like any of his possible Republican opponents either, leaving this Senate contest pretty wide open.

38% of voters in the state disapprove of Bennet's job performance so far with 31% approving. Those numbers are roughly equal to our previous survey which found the numbers at 41% disapproval to 34% approval. There are two primary reasons for Bennet's net negative ratings. The first is that Republicans disapprove (62%) of him more than Democrats approve of him (57%). The second is that he's getting unfavorable reviews from independents, 36% of whom disapprove of him compared to 29% approving. ...

Potential Republican opponents Bob Beauprez, Ryan Frazier, and Ken Buck all get overall negative reviews from voters in the state as well. 40% have an unfavorable opinion of Beauprez to 30% with a positive one. For Frazier it's 19% negative and 11% favorable and for Buck the numbers are 18% unfavorable and 17% favorable.

Though he calls the race "wide open," Jensen also thinks Bennet would only lose to Beauprez in a 1994-style meltdown. Still, it's depressing to even be thinking in those terms, and it's dispiriting to see Bennet locked in at about 40% regardless of his opponent. (In case you were wondering, Frazier is an Aurora City Councilman and Buck is the Weld County District Attorney. Both jurisdictions are in the quarter-million range in terms of population.)

PPP will have more Colorado numbers over the course of the week, including GOP primary numbers for both the Senate and gubernatorial races, as well as Obama approvals.

SSP currently rates this race as Lean Dem.

http://www.swingstateproject.com/diary/5439/cosen-bennet-numbers-not-strong-but-little-changed-from-april

[Hawkeye-X]

1. We're primarying this mofo

and replacing him with a progressive Democrat. This guy is no Democrat.

And the Rethuglicans are a joke. Easily defeatable.

Hawkeye-X

[BR_Parkway]

2. in that case, we should put up a primary opponent now and flood his war chest

with small, Obama style donations - let them all look on in horror from the Hill and remember that corporate Dems may love the lobbyist money, but they still need to votes of those who they're trying to fuck over.

Wouldn't that be a sweet message to send them back into session to mull over.

Progressive primary challenger named one day, a couple million in 5's, 10's & 20's into his campaign chest in a few days.

[Freddie Stubbs]

4. You've got to find a candidate first

[DevonRex]

5. I'm not much impressed, either. Still don't understand why Ritter

appointed him when Hickenlooper would have been so good. At least I think he would have been good. Never can tell about our Colorado Dems, though. They seem to morph when they get to the Senate for some reason.

[otohara]

10. I Spoke to Andrew Romanoff at Wash Park

a couple weeks ago and urged him to run in a primary.

He's thinking about it - he did mention that Bennet has the big $$$$$$$$'s - which helps when you want to step into the "US Senate/Millionaire" club.

[Hawkeye-X]

11. I'll support Romanoff over Bennet ANY day.

Not only he was a great Speaker of the State House, he was also my state rep, and we have often talked about my views, and he agrees with most of it.

Hawkeye-X

[paulk]

13. +1

my choice also

[rockymountaindem]

3. Bennet has a big war chest and the idea that Bob Beauprez would win anything is a larf

After his tragicomic run for governor in 2006 his name is a byword for ineptitude. The only reason he's ahead by 3 points is name recognition. Once Bennett starts campaigning a bit, he'll win.

As for whether or not Bennett is a "real Democrat", I have to say I've been pleasantly surprised by his willingness to stick by Obama's agenda. Besides, an independently wealthy man with campaign contributions rolling in doesn't exactly make others want to jump in the race.

[paulk]

6. Bennet is still going to have to make his case for many voters

he's an unknown to many, if not most Coloradans.

I agree with you that Beauprez is yesterday's newspaper, I don't see him as a threat. If the Republicans are smart enough to run Mike Coffman, then we might see a race...

I would still like to see a primary challenge, a real one - I'd rather our candidate come out of a genuine democratic process than an appointment.

[Hawkeye-X]

7. Not happening - Mike Coffmann is already dead in his water.

He fucked up the election process in '06 and nearly fucked it up in '08. Plenty of ads that will back up his fuckery and by the time '10 rolls around, no-one is going to trust any Rethuglicans. Period.

[paulk]

9. a lot will depend on the economy

if it's still in the tiolet this time next year, a lot of borderline Democrats could be in trouble. Off year elections are especially problematic, since the demographic groups that put us over the top in 2008, (younger voters, minorities), don't usually show up for midterm elections.

Coffman has already won a statewide election, which is more than Bennet can say. Plus, he has an impressive personal resume. He is a dangerous candidate, IMO.

[Hawkeye-X]

12. But Coffmann is not squeaky clean - he has skeletons in the closet.

Including election fraud that he was responsible for in '06 and almost fucked it up in '08.

Hawkeye-X

[WI_DEM]

8. those who think '10 will be a walk in the park, I think have another thing coming

I think the GOP, undeservably, is going to make strong gains in both house and senate. Hopefully not enough to win back either chamber.