DENVER -- There's growing fallout from the Scott McInnis plagiarism scandal. A day after three staffers resigned, a new poll shows McInnis is losing voter support, as well. In the latest Rasmussen survey, Mayor John Hickenlooper came out ahead of Scott McInnis among likely voters. It's the first time since February that has happened.
Analysts say McInnis has dug himself and his party into a hole.
"Scott McInnis has faced some bumps in the road earlier on with some other issues. But this isn't really a bump. This is a sinkhole. He has to try to avoid being swallowed by it," said Dr. Norman Provizer, a political science professor at Metro State University.
In the survey of likely voters, 45 percent said they would support John Hickenlooper, the Democratic nominee, in the general election. Forty-three percent said they would support McInnis should he win the Republican Primary. Seven percent preferred some other candidate and 5 percent were undecided. That's significant because one month ago, McInnis held a five-point lead over Hickenlooper.
"Depending on your perspective, his (McInnis') campaign is either half full or half empty. The only thing that is certain is it is less full than it was just days ago," said Provizer.
However, Provizer pointed out that the numbers show the race is still competitive.
"It showed that McInnis is losing support, but he still has support. And that in a race against John Hickenlooper as the Democratic nominee for Governor, it's relatively close," he said.
Despite calls for McInnis' drop out of the race, a campaign spokesperson maintained on Saturday that McInnis had no plans to that.
7NEWS asked Provizer if he thought McInnis had a chance to win the Governor's seat, given all that has unfolded.
"Actually I do think he stands a chance. Is it as good a chance as he stood previously … if we could go back in time and erase this last week? No," Provizer said.
Provizer added that McInnis, and the Republicans, still have anti-Democratic sentiment on their side. If McInnis can get through the primary, Provizer predicted a close race to the finish.
7NEWS tried to talk to McInnis Saturday and was told he was unavailable.
His press secretary said he was on the western slope attending a couple of private fundraisers.
McInnis' next public event is scheduled for Monday in Alamosa where he'll meet with the farm bureau.
