Senate polls show Democrats up in Michigan and Colorado (bland Establishment candidates)

thehill.com ^ | 7/15/14 | Alexandra Jaffe

[cotton1706]

Two new polls hold good news for Democrats in the blue-leaning swing states of Colorado and Michigan, both key to the party’s hopes of protecting their fragile Senate majority.

The NBC/Marist polls released Tuesday show Democratic Sen. Mark Udall (Colo.) and Rep. Gary Peters (D-Mich.) leading their Republican challengers, though their races remain tight. In Colorado, Udall posts his strongest lead in months against Rep. Cory Gardner (R), taking 48 percent support among registered voters to Gardner’s 41 percent support, with 10 percent undecided.

The actual margin of the race is likely somewhat tighter, as nearly every survey has shown a one- or two-point lead for Udall, and this poll tests registered, not likely voters. But the new poll could also be an indication Democratic attacks on Gardner’s support for restrictive abortion and birth-control measures have taken a toll on his standing in the state.

In Michigan, Peters takes 43 percent support among registered voters to Republican Terri Lynn Land’s 37 percent support, while 19 percent remain undecided in the open set contest.

That aligns closely with most recent polls of the race, which have shown Peters holding onto a solid single-digit lead.

The details of the Colorado poll seem to indicate those Democratic attacks on Gardner’s position on women’s issues have indeed been trouble for him.

Udall’s lead is driven by a 12-point advantage with female voters, while he’s about tied with Gardner with male voters.

And the senator is somewhat more popular than his challenger, with 42 percent viewing Udall favorably while 36 percent have an unfavorable view of him, and a fifth of registered voters are unsure. Gardner splits respondents more evenly, with 34 percent holding a favorable view, 32 percent viewing him unfavorably, and a quarter of voters saying they’re still unsure.

[grania]

I’m here in NE Ohio and see it from the standpoint of Kasich’s overtures to Cleveland not winning him any new supporters around here. I hope you’re right and that the rest of OH isn’t going to want Cuyahoga County’s chief exec to be governor.

[Catsrus]

A Republican will probably never win Cuyahoga County anyway. Nor Franklin or Hamilton counties - Athens county - home of Ohio University is also solid blue - but, most of Ohio counties are red. Fitzgerald (his name?) came to my hometown and only 20-25 people showed up to hear him. Of course, this is a solid red county - but, still - that was a poor showing.

[Monorprise]

“The details of the Colorado poll seem to indicate those Democratic attacks on Gardner’s position on women’s issues have indeed been trouble for him.”

I think its interesting how successful democrats are with theses attack ads