Colorado Senate Race May Produce Another Tea Party Type Upset

3 years ago

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Colorado may be going down the same path as Utah and Florida with an insurgent candidate backed by conservative activists making a strong run at an establishment Republican in the state's race for the GOP senate nomination.

Weld County District Attorney Ken Buck, who is being backed by the Senate Conservatives Fund, is in striking distance of former Lt. Gov. Jane Norton who is supported by the National Republican Senatorial Committee and had been thought to be the runaway favorite for the GOP nod.

Norton still leads the GOP field with 31 percent, but Buck is close behind at 26 percent among likely primary voters with 6 other candidates sharing 15 percent and 29 percent undecided, according to a Public Policy Polling survey conducted May 14-16. The margin of error is 4.6 points. The primary is August 10.

Ken Buck

In March, a PPP poll had Norton leading by Buck 34 percent to 17 percent.

Buck leads Norton by a 34 percent to 30 percent margin among conservatives (64 percent of the sample) which Norton offsets with a 32 percent to 12 percent advantage among moderates (34 percent of the sample).

Meanwhile, Democratic Sen. Michael Bennet appears to be gaining strength over primary challenger Andrew Romanoff, a former state House speaker. Bennet is ahead by 46 percent to 31 percent with 23 percent undecided. The margin of error is 4.6 points. Bennett had led by 40 percent to 34 percent in the last PPP poll.

"In Colorado the Democratic primary was supposed to be competitive and the GOP one a foregone conclusion," said PPP's Dean Debnam. "But it seems like the opposite of that is happening. Bennet has expanded his lead while Buck and Norton are headed for a close one."

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Filed Under: Senate, Democrats, Republicans, Primaries, Polls, Poll Watch, 2010 Elections, Tea Party

Tagged: 2010 Senate Elections, 2010 senate races, Andrew Romanoff, AndrewRomanoff, Colorado senate race, colorado senate races, ColoradoSenateRace, dailyguidance, jane norton, JaneNorton, ken buck, KenBuck, michael bennett, MichaelBennett

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