[Battleground Soundings in Colorado, Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin: A Quinnipiac University / washingtonpost.com / Wall Street Journal Poll

Sept. 2008: Poll Highlights | Colorado | Michigan | Minnesota | Wisconsin

Colorado Survey -- September 2008

From September 14 to 21, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,418 likely voters in Colorado; the survey has a margin of error of +/- 2.6 percent. The survey was conducted in partnership with washingtonpost.com and The Wall Street Journal.

1. If the election for President were being held today, and the candidates were Barack Obama the Democrat and John McCain the Republican, for whom would you vote? (If undecided q1) As of today, do you lean more toward Obama or McCain? This table includes "Leaners".

                     LIKELY VOTERS.................................................
                                                                             Union
COLORADO             Tot    Rep    Dem    Ind    Men    Wom    Wht    His    HsHlds

Obama                49%     7%    91%    51%    42%    55%    44%    68%    55%
McCain               45     89      6     40     49     40     51     26     39
SMONE ELSE(VOL)       1      1      1      2      2      1      2      -      -
WLDN'T VOTE(VOL)      -      -      -      -      -      -      -      -      -
DK/NA                 5      3      3      7      6      4      4      6      6

                     IMP ISSUE Q12.............
                                          Energ  Denvr/ Arap/         RestOf
                     War    Econ   Terr   Polcy  Bouldr Jeff   West   State

Obama                58%    58%     8%    42%    64%    51%    38%    37%
McCain               40     38     89     54     29     42     58     55
SMONE ELSE(VOL)       1      1      -      2      1      2      1      1
WLDN'T VOTE(VOL)      -      -      -      -      -      -      -      -
DK/NA                 2      4      3      3      5      5      3      6

                                          WHITE..................................
                     AGE IN YRS.......    NoColl College              BrnAgn
                     18-34  35-54  55+    Degree Degree Men    Wom    Evngl  Cath

Obama                48%    52%    46%    40%    49%    38%    49%    20%    47%
McCain               48     42     47     53     47     54     47     74     48
SMONE ELSE(VOL)       2      1      2      2      1      3      1      2      1
WLDN'T VOTE(VOL)      -      -      -      -      -      -      -      -      -
DK/NA                 3      5      6      5      3      5      4      5      5

                     PresVt2004..  BushJobAppQ25
                     Bush   Kerry  App    Dis

Obama                10%    89%     4%    66%
McCain               85      8     91     27
SMONE ELSE(VOL)       1      1      1      2
WLDN'T VOTE(VOL)      -      -      -      -
DK/NA                 4      2      4      5

                     Sep 23  Aug 24  Jul 24  Jun 26
TREND:               2008    2008    2008    2008

Obama                49      46      44      49
McCain               45      47      46      44
SMONE ELSE(VOL)       1       2       3       2
WLDN'T VOTE(VOL)      -       -       -       -
DK/NA                 5       5       7       5

1a. Is your mind made up, or do you think you might change your mind before the election?

                                                                       
                           CAND CHOICEQ1
CO                   Tot    Obama  McCain

Made up              87%    88%    85%
Might change         12     11     13
DK/NA                 1      1      1

2a. If the election for United States Senator were being held today, and the candidates were Mark Udall the Democrat and Bob Shaffer the Republican, for whom would you vote? (If undecided q2a) As of today, do you lean more toward Udall or Shaffer? This table includes "Leaners".

                                                                             Union
COLORADO ONLY        Tot    Rep    Dem    Ind    Men    Wom    Wht    His    HsHlds

Udall                48%    13%    86%    49%    44%    53%    44%    64%    52%
Shaffer              40     80      8     31     46     34     45     21     35
SMONE ELSE(VOL)       1      1      -      3      2      1      1      2      1
WLDN'T VOTE(VOL)      -      -      -      -      -      -      -      -      -
DK/NA                11      7      6     17      8     13     10     13     13

2. Is your opinion of -- Barack Obama favorable, unfavorable or haven't you heard enough about him?


                                                                             Union
CO                   Tot    Rep    Dem    Ind    Men    Wom    Wht    His    HsHlds

Favorable            58%    24%    90%    62%    54%    62%    54%    73%    59%
Unfavorable          33     68      4     26     37     29     37     16     31
Hvn't hrd enough      7      6      5     10      7      7      6     11     10
REFUSED               2      2      1      2      2      2      2      -      1

3. Is your opinion of -- John McCain favorable, unfavorable or haven't you heard enough about him?


                                                                             Union
CO                   Tot    Rep    Dem    Ind    Men    Wom    Wht    His    HsHlds

Favorable            56%    88%    24%    55%    60%    51%    62%    31%    52%
Unfavorable          35      8     67     32     31     39     31     49     40
Hvn't hrd enough      6      3      6      9      6      6      4     19      7
REFUSED               3      1      4      3      2      3      3      2      1

4. Is your opinion of -- Joe Biden favorable, unfavorable or haven't you heard enough about him?

                                                                             Union
CO                   Tot    Rep    Dem    Ind    Men    Wom    Wht    His    HsHlds

Favorable            40%    15%    68%    39%    41%    39%    37%    49%    49%
Unfavorable          27     53      4     22     32     21     30     12     22
Hvn't hrd enough     32     32     26     38     26     38     31     39     29
REFUSED               2      1      2      1      1      2      2      -      -

5. Is your opinion of -- Sarah Palin favorable, unfavorable or haven't you heard enough about her?

                                                                             Union
CO                   Tot    Rep    Dem    Ind    Men    Wom    Wht    His    HsHlds

Favorable            43%    81%     9%    39%    45%    41%    48%    26%    41%
Unfavorable          35      5     69     33     31     38     32     45     42
Hvn't hrd enough     20     12     20     27     22     18     18     29     16
REFUSED               2      1      2      1      1      2      2      -      1

6. Do you think John McCain's selection of Sarah Palin as his vice presidential running mate was a good choice or a bad choice?

                                                                             Union
CO                   Tot    Rep    Dem    Ind    Men    Wom    Wht    His    HsHlds

Good choice          55%    88%    21%    54%    61%    49%    61%    35%    52%
Bad choice           38      8     71     36     33     42     33     52     42
DK/NA                 8      4      8     10      6      9      7     13      5

7. Do you think Barack Obama's selection of Joe Biden as his vice presidential running mate was a good choice or a bad choice?

                                                                             Union
CO                   Tot    Rep    Dem    Ind    Men    Wom    Wht    His    HsHlds

Good choice          52%    29%    78%    52%    51%    53%    50%    59%    52%
Bad choice           32     54     11     31     38     26     34     24     35
DK/NA                16     17     12     17     11     21     16     16     13

8. Does John McCain's choice of Sarah Palin for Vice President make you more likely to vote for McCain for President, less likely, or doesn't it make a difference?

                                                                             Union
CO                   Tot    Rep    Dem    Ind    Men    Wom    Wht    His    HsHlds

More likely          26%    48%     5%    23%    27%    25%    29%    13%    27%
Less likely          28      5     48     33     25     32     26     28     28
Doesn't make diff    44     46     46     41     46     42     43     59     43
DK/NA                 2      1      1      2      2      1      2      -      2

9. Does Barack Obama's choice of Joe Biden for Vice President make you more likely to vote for Obama for President, less likely, or doesn't it make a difference?


                                                                             Union
CO                   Tot    Rep    Dem    Ind    Men    Wom    Wht    His    HsHlds

More likely          16%     5%    30%    13%    14%    17%    14%    20%    30%
Less likely          13     21      3     13     17      8     13     12     18
Doesn't make diff    69     73     64     70     65     72     70     64     47
DK/NA                 3      1      4      4      3      3      3      4      5

10. If it became necessary, who would you rather see become president of the United States, Sarah Palin or Joe Biden?


                                                                             Union
CO                   Tot    Rep    Dem    Ind    Men    Wom    Wht    His    HsHlds

Palin                42%    82%     4%    37%    46%    37%    47%    20%    36%
Biden                49     12     86     50     45     52     45     63     57
DK/NA                10      6      9     13      9     10      8     17      7

11. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement: The vice presidential candidates picked by Barack Obama and John McCain have little to do with which candidate I will vote for, for president?


                                                                             Union
CO                   Tot    Rep    Dem    Ind    Men    Wom    Wht    His    HsHlds

Agree                58%    58%    59%    59%    60%    56%    57%    62%    59%
Disagree             39     41     37     38     38     40     40     34     36
DK/NA                 3      1      4      3      2      4      3      4      4

12. Which of the following will be the single most important issue in your vote in the election for President this year? (READ OPTIONS)


                                                                             Union
CO                   Tot    Rep    Dem    Ind    Men    Wom    Wht    His    HsHlds

Terrorism             7%    16%     1%     5%     8%     6%     8%     5%     8%
The war in Iraq      12     10     16     11      9     15     12     15      6
The economy          51     45     54     54     49     53     50     52     51
Illegal immigration   8      9      4      8     10      6      7     13      8
Energy policy        10     11     10     10     13      7     11      6     10
Health care           7      3     12      6      5      9      7      8     10
SOMETHING ELSE(VOL)   2      3      1      2      3      2      2      -      4
DK/NA                 3      3      2      4      4      3      4      2      3

13. If elected, John McCain would be the first person to become President at age 72 - Does that make you more likely to vote for McCain, less likely to vote for McCain, or doesn't it make a difference?

                                                                             Union
CO                   Tot    Rep    Dem    Ind    Men    Wom    Wht    His    HsHlds

More likely           2%     2%     1%     2%     2%     2%     2%     4%     4%
Less likely          30     10     51     30     28     31     27     35     32
Doesn't make diff    68     88     47     68     69     66     70     59     65
DK/NA                 1      -      1      1      1      1      1      1      -

14. If elected, Barack Obama would be the first African-American President. Does that make you more likely to vote for Obama, less likely to vote for Obama, or doesn't it make a difference?

                                                                             Union
CO                   Tot    Rep    Dem    Ind    Men    Wom    Wht    His    HsHlds

More likely           6%     3%    10%     4%     5%     7%     4%    11%    11%
Less likely           2      4      1      2      2      2      3      1      2
Doesn't make diff    91     93     87     92     92     89     93     84     85
DK/NA                 1      -      2      2      1      2      1      4      2

15. How likely is it that the presidential debates could change your mind about who you will vote for this year? Very likely, somewhat likely, not too likely, or not likely at all?

                                                                             Union
CO                   Tot    Rep    Dem    Ind    Men    Wom    Wht    His    HsHlds

Very likely           6%     2%     6%    10%     5%     8%     5%     8%    10%
Smwht likely         16     17      9     23     16     16     15     26     18
Not too likely       24     25     23     24     23     25     27     16     19
Not likely at all    52     56     59     41     54     49     52     45     50
DK/NA                 1      -      2      2      1      2      1      4      3

                     CAND CHOICEQ1
                     Obama  McCain
CO
Very likely           7%     4%
Smwht likely         13     16
Not too likely       25     25
Not likely at all    53     53
DK/NA                 1      1


16. How likely is it that the vice-presidential debate could change your mind about who you will vote for this year? Very likely, somewhat likely, not too likely, or not likely at all?


                                                                             Union
CO                   Tot    Rep    Dem    Ind    Men    Wom    Wht    His    HsHlds

Very likely           4%     3%     5%     4%     3%     4%     3%     9%     8%
Smwht likely         12     11      7     16      9     15     11     19     13
Not too likely       19     19     14     24     19     19     21     17     17
Not likely at all    64     67     73     55     67     60     65     55     61
DK/NA                 1      -      1      1      1      1      1      1      -

                     CAND CHOICEQ1
                     Obama  McCain
CO
Very likely           3%     4%
Smwht likely         10     12
Not too likely       19     20
Not likely at all    67     63
DK/NA                 -      -

17. Which of the following statements do you agree with: John McCain is the candidate who will bring change OR Barack Obama is the candidate who will bring change OR Neither will bring change?

                                                                             Union
CO                   Tot    Rep    Dem    Ind    Men    Wom    Wht    His    HsHlds

McCain               22%    48%     3%    15%    21%    23%    24%    15%    22%
Obama                46     11     86     43     40     51     41     65     48
Neither              26     35      9     31     33     19     28     16     27
DK/NA                 6      6      2     10      6      7      7      4      3

18. Which of the following statements do you agree with: I will be better off a year from now if John McCain is elected president OR I will be better off a year from now if Barack Obama is elected president OR I will not be better off a year from now?

                                                                             Union
CO                   Tot    Rep    Dem    Ind    Men    Wom    Wht    His    HsHlds

Better off/McCain    29%    60%     4%    22%    32%    25%    32%    18%    20%
Better off/Obama     34      4     73     29     30     39     29     55     45
Not be better off    27     25     18     38     28     27     29     17     26
DK/NA                 9     11      5     11     10      9      9     10      9

19. Who do you think better understands the economy - John McCain or Barack Obama?

                                                                             Union
CO                   Tot    Rep    Dem    Ind    Men    Wom    Wht    His    HsHlds

McCain               41%    77%     9%    38%    45%    37%    45%    27%    42%
Obama                47     13     83     47     43     50     43     66     51
DK/NA                12     10      8     15     12     12     12      7      7

20. Who do you think better understands foreign policy - John McCain or Barack Obama?

                                                                             Union
CO                   Tot    Rep    Dem    Ind    Men    Wom    Wht    His    HsHlds

McCain               63%    94%    31%    63%    67%    59%    68%    44%    56%
Obama                29      4     58     28     27     31     25     44     35
DK/NA                 8      2     11     10      6     10      7     11      9

21. If John McCain is elected President, do you think your taxes will go up, go down, or stay about the same?

                                                                             Union
CO                   Tot    Rep    Dem    Ind    Men    Wom    Wht    His    HsHlds

Up                   28%    10%    48%    25%    23%    33%    24%    44%    33%
Down                  8     14      3      6      8      8      8      6     10
Same                 60     74     42     65     66     53     64     45     56
DK/NA                 5      3      7      4      3      6      4      5      2

22. If Barack Obama is elected President, do you think your taxes will go up, go down, or stay about the same?

                                                                             Union
CO                   Tot    Rep    Dem    Ind    Men    Wom    Wht    His    HsHlds

Up                   48%    79%    20%    43%    54%    43%    53%    27%    39%
Down                 16      5     33     13     16     17     15     23     25
Same                 31     14     40     38     27     34     28     43     33
DK/NA                 5      2      6      5      4      6      4      7      4

23. Barack Obama says he will cut taxes for 95 percent of working families. John McCain says Obama will actually raise taxes overall on most American families. Whom do you believe?

                                                                             Union
CO                   Tot    Rep    Dem    Ind    Men    Wom    Wht    His    HsHlds

McCain               42%    80%     6%    37%    45%    38%    47%    21%    37%
Obama                41      8     79     37     35     46     37     54     47
DK/NA                18     12     14     26     19     16     16     25     16

24. Do you think the news media has treated Sarah Palin fairly or unfairly?

                                                                             Union
CO                   Tot    Rep    Dem    Ind    Men    Wom    Wht    His    HsHlds

Fairly               48%    22%    73%    50%    47%    49%    45%    58%    58%
Unfairly             45     73     17     42     48     42     48     34     34
DK/NA                 8      4     10      8      6      9      7      7      8

25. Do you approve or disapprove of the way George W. Bush is handling his job as President?

                                                                             Union
CO                   Tot    Rep    Dem    Ind    Men    Wom    Wht    His    HsHlds

Approve              24%    55%     3%    14%    25%    23%    27%    13%    22%
Disapprove           71     37     95     82     71     71     68     84     77
DK/NA                 5      8      2      4      4      6      5      3      -

26. In general, how satisfied are you with the way things are going in the nation today? Are you very satisfied, somewhat satisfied, somewhat dissatisfied, or very dissatisfied?

                                                                             Union
CO                   Tot    Rep    Dem    Ind    Men    Wom    Wht    His    HsHlds

Very satisfied        2%     4%     1%     1%     2%     2%     2%     2%     5%
Smwht satisfied      17     36      6     11     19     15     18     20     14
Smwht dissatisfied   31     38     22     33     33     29     33     22     29
Very dissatisfied    49     21     71     55     45     52     46     56     52
DK/NA                 1      1      -      1      -      1      1      -      -

27. Do you think going to war with Iraq was the right thing for the United States to do or the wrong thing?

                                                                             Union
CO                   Tot    Rep    Dem    Ind    Men    Wom    Wht    His    HsHlds

Right thing          37%    73%     7%    30%    40%    35%    41%    24%    34%
Wrong thing          58     22     91     64     57     60     54     72     65
DK/NA                 4      5      1      6      3      5      5      4      2

28. Regardless of how you intend to vote, what would you prefer the next president do about the war in Iraq?

A) Begin immediately a withdrawal of American troops, with a fixed date to have them all out within 18 months. OR

B) Keep troops in Iraq until the situation is more stable, and then begin to withdraw them, without a fixed date for full withdrawal.

                                                                             Union
CO                   Tot    Rep    Dem    Ind    Men    Wom    Wht    His    HsHlds

A) Begin immediate
 withdrawal/18 mos   39%    15%    65%    40%    37%    41%    35%    59%    44%
B) Stay until stable/
 No fixed dates      55     82     28     53     58     52     60     33     49
DK/NA                 6      3      6      7      5      6      5      8      7

29. Which best describes your family's financial situation - Getting ahead, falling behind or holding steady?

                                                                             Union
CO                   Tot    Rep    Dem    Ind    Men    Wom    Wht    His    HsHlds

Getting ahead        15%    22%    11%    13%    17%    14%    15%    20%    21%
Falling behind       24     15     33     25     24     24     24     22     31
Holding steady       60     63     54     62     59     61     60     57     47
DK/NA                 1      -      1      1      -      1      1      -      1

30. As you think about your own financial situation, which of the following economic issues worries you the most right now -- A) declining retirement fund values, B) declining real estate values, C) rising health care costs D) rising gasoline prices, or E) rising food prices?

                                                                             Union
CO                   Tot    Rep    Dem    Ind    Men    Wom    Wht    His    HsHlds

A) Retirement funds  16%    17%    15%    17%    15%    17%    18%    10%    17%
B) Real estate vals  14     17     12     13     16     13     14     12      8
C) Health care cost  22     17     31     19     19     24     22     20     25
D) Gasoline prices   26     32     16     27     28     23     25     32     28
E) Food prices       17     12     19     20     15     18     15     25     20
DK/NA                 5      5      6      4      6      5      6      2      3

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