Pollster.com

This is a surprise. I am disappointed in Colorado since they had been moving in the Blue direction since 2004. I hope Bennet doesn't win the nomination, because Romanoff sounds like a better candidate. Again the dynamics of Colorado may change things this summer. It doesn't have as high of an unemployment rate as Indiana, Michigan or Ohio, so the more suburban districts may re-elect their represenatives. Two districts in Colorado have very progressive Democrats near Denver. I think this race will become more competitive.

Actually, this isn't really a surprise at all. The Appointed One has done nothing but alienate voters in a right-leaning state by voting for a health care bill that is EXTREMELY unpopular in Colorado. And Norton's common-sense conservatism really fits the tenor of the state pretty well. Except for Boulder and the city of Denver--which, together, comprise approximately just 1/10 of the entire state population--the state tends to be very weary of traditional liberal politics. The suburbs are typically conservative, too. And Norton's "soccer mom" appeal will help her a lot among those suburban voters.

The Democrats's gains in the state can be swept away in, literally, a single day. The balance of power is very thin and Coloradans tend to be very tempermental on election day. My guess is that next November will be very, very red in Colorado.

It's interesting to see that in a number of states that have trended more blue in the last 4-6 years are moving closer to where they were pre-Bush. It makes sense, since peoples political ideologies haven't really changed, but I thought it would take longer for them to return to their standard center-right position.

This election is the result of the incompetent governor Bill Ritter who is so unpopular that he can't run for re-election. Had he picked Hickenlooper rather than Bennet this seat would be safe right now. Hickenlooper would have wiped the floor with Norton.