Colorado’s U.S. Senate race between Republican Cory Gardner and Democrat Mark Udall is virtually tied, according to a new poll that shows the economy and health care are influencing voters.
Sen. Udall is leading Congressman Gardner 45 percent to 44 percent, but the senator’s approval ratings have dropped and fewer voters think he should be re-elected, a Quinnipiac University poll released early Thursdayshows.
Coloradans also were asked about the 2016 presidential race and President Obama. They still favor U.S. Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky in two years, and disapprove of the job the president is doing.
“In a race that is both too close to call and one of the prime targets for Republicans trying to take back the Senate, Colorado Sen. Mark Udall might best focus on one predominant concern — the economy,” said Tim Malloy, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University poll.
PDF: Quinnipiac University poll results
In an open-ended question, allowing for any answer, 16 percent of voters listed the economy or jobs as the most important issue in deciding their U.S. Senate vote, and 14 percent list health care.
“No other issue comes close,” Quinnipiac reported.
Colorado voters oppose the Affordable Care Act 59 percent to 37 percent, the poll found. Udall voted for the measure and has been hit with two ads — one unveiled Wednesday after the poll was conducted — from the conservative group Americans for Prosperity over his support for Obamacare.
Udall leads 52 percent to 35 percent among women, the audience he was targeting when he released his first campaign ad this week. The spot blisters Gardner’s position on abortion and birth control. Gardner leads 53 percent to 38 percent among men.
Colorado voters are split, 42 percent to 42 percent, in their approval of the job Udall is doing as a U.S. senator. In Quinnipiac’s February poll, Udall’s approval rating was 45 percent to 41 percent.
Asked whether Udall should be re-elected, 46 percent said no and 40 percent said yes. That number was tied at 42 percent in February.
When Quinnipiac polled Coloradans in February, Gardner hadn’t entered the race but Udall still struggled against a field of Republicans. Gardner now is the lone GOP candidate in the race.
In the latest poll, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,298 registered voters in Colorado with landlines and cell phones from April 15 through Monday. The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 2.7 percentage points.
Fifty percent of those polled said they don’t know enough about Gardner to form an opinion.
As for the 2016 presidential race, U.S. Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky is the strongest candidate in Colorado, topping former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton 48 percent to 43 percent.
Paul also has the highest favorability rating, 41 percent to 30 percent.
“The road to the White House has many twists and turns, but right now, U.S. Sen. Rand Paul is the man to beat in Colorado,” Malloy said.
Colorado voters disapprove 59 percent to 38 percent of the job President Obama is doing, almost unchanged since its February poll.
Obama’s unpopularity is expected to play a key role in the outcome of the midterm elections.
Lynn Bartels: 303-954-5327, lbartels@denverpost.com or twitter.com/lynn_bartels
