Is Colorado a swing state?

[mot78]

Ben Nighthorse Campbell's seat is in play, and the state was carried by Clinton at least once. I also heard that we didn't lose it by much in the last election. Is Colorado in play? It would make a nice addition to a "Solid Southwest" that would include AZ, NM, and NV.

[rockymountaindem]

1. Ummm...

My answer would be no. We lost Colorado huge last time (like 2 to 1 I think), and I don't recall Colorado ever going for Clinton, although I was really young in 92. Anyway, those are my thoughts.

[coloradodem2005]

3. CO went to Clinton in 92.

[coloradodem2005]

2. Sort of.

I meet a lot of conservatives. Too many. But I know a lot of liberals too. We have trended more republican over the last ten years but I am seeing a shift. I think it has gone as far as it will go and now it will start to go back. Partly with the retaking of the senate seat and at least a couple more congressional districts.

[mot78]

5. I think Colorado, and even Texas have the potential to turn Blue

[Goldom]

4. not quite...

Clinton did win CO in '92, but it went red in '96 and '00. 2 repub senators, (though maybe only 1 soon!) and large suburb/rural areas...
however, Denver is easily a blue city... it's just a matter of enough people in the metro area voting to outweigh the rest of the state.

[coloradodem2005]

6. Boulder is also very Blue.

THey could vote too.

[janx]

13. And they do!

;-)

[Florida_Geek]

7. Well

2000
George W. Bush Richard Cheney Republican.... 883,745 50.75% 8
Albert Gore Jr. Joseph Lieberman Democratic. 738,227 42.39% 0
Ralph Nader Winona LaDuke Green.............. 91,434 5.25%

1996
Robert Dole Jack Kemp Republican............ 691,848 45.80% 8
William Clinton Albert Gore Jr. Democratic ..671,152 44.43% 0
H. Ross Perot Pat Choate Reform ...............99,629 6.59% 0
Ralph Nader Winona LaDuke Green CO............ 25,070 1.66%


1992
William Clinton Albert Gore Jr.... Democratic 629,681 40.13% 8
George Bush J. Danforth Quayle ....Republican 562,850 35.87% 0
H. Ross Perot James Stockdale Independent.... 366,010 23.32%

[rockymountaindem]

8. My faith in Colorado has been restored!!!

I had no idea it was that "close" in 2000. We almost got 50% of the vote when you count Nader. And I thought it was 75% Repub! Guess I'll have to stop bad-mouthing the whole state and stick to just the CS area.

[ludwigb]

9. That's actually closer than I thought

With a strong Salazar campaign, we may just have a shot. Unfortunately, the loss to Allard (a really lame Repug) in 2002 was pretty demoralizing. But Kerry and Salazar together might just be able to turn it around.

I think Kerry will do better than Gore among macho men--there are certainly plenty of them in Colorado. Add to that Salazar hopefully energizing the Hispanic vote, and we might have a contest.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

10. An excellent resource for evaluating these types of questions

Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections

[lancdem]

11. It's considered a "purple" state in the latest Zogby analysis

meaning it currently is considered a swing state. See http://www.emergingdemocraticmajority.com

[janx]

23. YES. Colorado is typical in that it is an almost evenly divided

state.

The Republican count outnumbers the Democrat count (at least in my town), but the independents (I was one of these until Dean) are a huge factor.

[janx]

12. My impression is that it is more of a swing state than many

people believe it is because we have some *real* wingnut politicians here (McGinnis, Tancredo, Musgrave, etc.). But these are offset by a decent Dem population, and more importantly, by a load of independents. That's all I can figure out.

Our economy, as that of most states, is on the skids. It's terrible here.

Dean had some decent support here--something like 11,000 Coloradans were active in supporting him here in the last six months.

[Lefty48197]

14. Sure we can win Colorado

but if we do it, then we've won in a huge landslide and didn't need their votes anyway. If the election is close, then CO is still a Republican state.

[Bombtrack]

15. Yes, It's got a strong progressive community

You have to look at the numbers. Gore lost by 8.36 percent. However, Nader got 5.35 percent. Believe me, when it comes time to voting, Naderites are going to overwhelmingly break for pragmatism. and for Kerry

[Clyyyde]

17. Ben's chaces

This site has been pretty good on predictions;

http://www.campaignline.com/odds/odds.cfm

Supposed to say chances

[newyawker99]

29. Hi Clyyyde!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[mot78]

18. Then Colorado is definately in play

Even in '96 Dole only narrowly carried it. I've always has the impression that Colorado has a number of liberals despite being perceived as a conservative state.

[LiviaOlivia]

16. Depends on unemployed vs wealthy Republican retirees

Voter turn-out and who turns out to vote.

[Crunchy Frog]

19. Well I plan to do my part

in encouraging my state to swing back to the Dem side. I guess I will be working with the local party, even though I've never really been politically active before.

The Colorado Springs area is a major center of wingnut politics, that's where Focus on the Family is headquartered.

[LiviaOlivia]

24. Fuck Colorado Springs

Hopefully the rest of the state will have domination over those
assholes who seek to destroy Colorado and this country.

[rockymountaindem]

27. I live there,

and I agree.

[janx]

25. I always wonder WHEN they were headquartered there,

you know?

I should look into the history of this, because the Air Force Academy is really something respectable (except for the rapes), but the fundy community in Colorado Springs is not.

[curse10]

20. I'd say no

It's getting more and more repug by the minute. Damn Reagan californians and Texans always moving there

[flaminbats]

21. certainly...

if Kerry picks someone like John McCain or Bob Kerrey to run with.

[mot78]

22. Kerry/Kerrey '04...I like

Go Kerrys! :D

[Robb]

26. Don't discount the Western Slope

...We've got the fastest growing counties out here, and what I'm seeing move in are a lot of young folks and young, progressive families. Lots of Dems (and Greens, actually) holding local offices out here, a LOT of anti-war / anti-Patriot act legislation got passed.

I'm also seeing a lot more rural agricultural folks who don't buy into Bush. :shrug:

[janx]

28. I'm on the Front Range and not familiar with the Western Slope,

but I'd like to learn more about it.

I know it's beautiful there, but how could anyone get a job? If you could PM me, I'd appreciate it.

[otohara]

30. No One I Know w/ Voted for Illegal Fraud

will do so again - possible, hope so.