Incumbent Democrat Michael Bennet and his Republican challenger Ken Buck are in a virtual tie in Colorados U.S. Senate race as the candidates prepare for a nationally televised debate on Sunday. The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of Likely Voters in Colorado shows Buck with 47% support to Bennets 45%. Four percent (4%) prefer another candidate in the race, and another four percent (4%) are still undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
These findings move the race from Leans Republican to a Toss-Up in the Rasmussen Reports Election 2010 Senate Balance of Power rankings. This is the closest the race has been in eight months of surveying.
Less than two weeks ago, Buck, a county prosecutor, held a 50% to 45% lead over Bennet, who was named to the Senate last year when Ken Salazar joined President Obamas Cabinet. In surveys since March, Buck has earned 44% to 51% support, while backing for Bennet has ranged from 38% to 45%. (Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.
The survey of 750 Likely Voters in Colorado was conducted on October 14, 2010 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/-4 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.