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What The Colorado Campaigns Are Focused On In These Final Days

Ken Lund
/
CC BY-SA 2.0

Election Day is less than a week away, and campaigns for close races for U.S. Senate and Governor are making their final pitch to voters. In order to get a sense of what could tip the balance in these tossup races for Governor and Senate, we picked the brains of reporters that work at the state capitol.

The most watched races in Colorado, the Governor's race and the battle for Colorado's U.S. Senate seat have been close. In the case of the Senate race – which many say could be crucial for a GOP takeover – a final Denver Post poll shows the contest deadlocked within the margin-of-error: 46 percent for Gardner, 44 percent for Udall. A similar final poll from the Post for the governorship says Hickenlooper and Beauprez are tied at 46 percent a piece heading into Election Day.

In the roundtable is Ed Sealover of the Denver Business Journal, Peter Marcus from the Durango Herald and Megan Schrader, a reporter for the Colorado Springs Gazette.

Ed Sealover On The Governor's Race

"You have John Hickenlooper who has had four years, in which he has gotten some praise, in which he hasn't had controversies that are too enormous. I know some gun rights advocates are going to say that's not true, that was a huge deal. And Bob Beauprez. I think the dynamic for that one is going to be who has passion on their side."

Peter Marcus On Beauprez

"Bob Beauprez needed to run a perfect campaign to defeat Hickenlooper. Currently he's experience some blow back for having invoked slain prison chief Tom Clements. At some point does that tip the scales for voters who are so tired of this negativity?"

Sealover On Colorado's Close Senate Race

"The parties are trying to get their own out. At this point I don't know that Senator Udall or his challenger Congressman Cory Gardner are going for anyone other than there own party now. In fact, based on his ads I don't know that Udall is going after anyone but 22-39 year old female voters."

Megan Schrader On Mail In Ballots

"Obviously it's going to have a huge impact. No one is sure what that impact is going to be yet. Historically I think all mail in ballots tend to favor Democrats, but early on we've seen a huge surge from Republicans turning in ballots."

Bente Birkeland has been reporting on state legislative issues for KUNC and Rocky Mountain Community Radio since 2006. Originally, from Minnesota, Bente likes to hike and ski in her spare time. She keeps track of state politics throughout the year but is especially busy during the annual legislative session from January through early May.
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