Rep. Cory Gardner (R., Colo.) is leading Democratic incumbent Sen. Mark Udall by eight percentage points, according to a new poll released Thursday.
According to Quinnipiac:
Colorado U.S. Sen. Mark Udall trails U.S. Rep. Cory Gardner, his Republican challenger, 48 – 40 percent among likely voters, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today. Independent candidate Steve Shogan gets 8 percent.
With Shogan out of the race, Rep. Gardner leads 52 – 42 percent, the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University poll finds. This survey of likely voters can not be compared with earlier surveys of registered voters.
In the three-way matchup, Gardner leads Udall among men 53 – 34 percent, with 9 percent for Shogan. Women go 46 percent for Udall, 43 percent for Gardner and 7 percent for Shogan.
Independent voters go 42 percent for Gardner, 40 percent for Udall and 15 percent for Shogan. Republicans back Gardner over Udall 88 – 5 percent with 5 percent for Shogan.
Quinnipiac surveyed 1,211 likely voters from Sept. 10-15 to determine its results. The poll has a margin of error of 2.8 percentage points.
The economy is the number one issue in the race, with 34 percent of likely voters saying it is the most important to them. Obamacare came in second, as 18 percent said it is the issue that matters most.
Only 42 percent said that Udall is honest and trustworthy, compared to Gardner’s 54 percent. Gardner also leads in favorability at 47 percent to Udall’s 42.
"Gardner cares about their needs and problems, voters say 51–37 percent, compared to Udall’s 46–47 percent split," according to the poll.
Tim Malloy, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University poll, said the latest survey gives a "jolting shot of adrenaline to the GOP," for a race that has been within the margin of error.
"For Sen. Mark Udall, the head to head numbers are bad and the character numbers are worse," he said. "U.S. Rep. Cory Gardner, for now, is in the driver’s seat in a race with National importance."