In December I noted that Rasmussen’s survey of the Colorado U.S. Senate matchups showed a significant momentum swing for Republican Weld County District Attorney Ken Buck. One month later, the results from Rasmussen tell a somewhat different story.
If you have been reluctant to describe fellow Republican Jane Norton as the frontrunner … well, “facts are stubborn things,” John Adams once said. Norton has pushed her lead over incumbent appointee Michael Bennet from 9 points to 12 and is nearly at 50 percent (49-37). Buck’s lead over Bennet ticked up one point to five (43-38), while the recent invisible campaign of Tom Wiens has grown a similar lead of 44-38.
The first bottom line? Michael Bennet is sinking, and soon even the Democrat happy juice Political Line at Colorado Pols will have to acknowledge the Ritter appointee is not the favorite to keep the seat in November.
The second bottom line? Jane Norton has set herself up as the strongest candidate so far, a good place to be two months before the caucuses. The next fundraising reports (due out soon) may help to confirm the storyline.
Even so, I’m sure the Norton campaign isn’t ready to take anything for granted. If the former lieutenant governor continues to espouse strong fiscally conservative principles and credentials, and can win a measure of support through her direct appeals to the energized grassroots of the party, she will have every advantage to win the nomination.
If you disagree (or agree), chime in by taking the survey of Colorado’s political temperature before the polls close at 5 PM today.
Rossputin has further analysis on the new Rasmussen results — especially as it pertains to the showing of Bennet’s Democratic Party challenger Andrew Romanoff.
kevinallen says
1/15/2010 at 6:05 pmKen Buck is the clear Conservative leader in this race, he is the grassroots pick.
Country Club republicans will do whatever they can to keep their tax and spend, gov’t control republican candidate in power, but the people have had enough and are rallying around Ken Buck.
We have not yet begun to fight.
a.stewart says
1/24/2010 at 10:23 pmIf you want to fight you should fight for a conservative who will defeat Bennet and that is Jane Norton. It is sad that you would try to bring Nancy Pelosi class warfare into a Republican campaign. It seems like you are rambling. Try visiting Jane Norton’s website and it is clear on issue after issue she is the kind of leader Colorado needs.