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RE: SALAZAR RETAINS LEAD OVER COORS DESPITE BUSH LEAD IN COLORADO
Despite having been outspent on TV by Pete Coors in the primary by 2.5-to-1, Ken Salazar continues to hold onto a lead over Coors in the Colorado U.S. Senate race, and Salazar enjoys much more popularity than does Coors.
Coming out of the August primary, Ken Salazar benefits from a much more positive image than does Pete Coors. Fully half (50%) of Colorado voters feel positive toward Ken Salazar while just 13% feel negative toward him - an impressive 4-to-1 ratio. In the case of Pete Coors, 42% are positive toward him while fully 26% are negative - a lackluster ratio of 8-to-5. This has occurred despite Coors spending $1,688,000 on TV ads in the primary to Salazar's $669,000 on TV ads.
Survey Fully Accounts for Republican and Coors' Advantages
Our survey mirrors the Republican registration edge in Colorado with a sample that is 40% Republican, 31% Democratic, and 28% Independent.
Also, whatever advantage Peter Coors has is fully reflected in this survey. He has 93% name recognition, while Ken Salazar has 92% name recognition. Indeed, the image of Coors Brewing has declined just in the last two months (from 47% positive in June to 38% positive in August) without any electronic media focus upon its policies. So, if anything, in the next two months the Coors Brewing entity is much more likely to be a liability for Peter Coors than a plus.
Also, without seeing anything on Denver TV about Coors' record, voters are more likely to see Peter Coors as too conservative (36%) than Ken Salazar as too liberal (26%). And Coloradans have not yet been exposed to any of Peter Coors' extreme right-wing stands on a whole host of issues.
Both Salazar and Coors Polls Show Salazar in the lead
Ken Salazar holds a lead over Pete Coors of 48% to 42%, with 10% undecided. Among Independents, Salazar holds an impressive lead of 54% to 33%. Among self-described moderates, Salazar is ahead by 57% to 31%. Coors manages to garner support from only three-fourths of Bush voters. Indeed, Coors' own poll released August 27 by the Tarrance Group confirms a Salazar lead of 47% to 43% (August 24 to 26 among 600 likely voters).
Furthermore, we asked voters which candidate has the "right kind of experience to be senator," 55% pick Ken Salazar while 24% select Pete Coors.
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