Colorado: Public Policy Polling

According to poll results from Public Policy Polling, Gov. Bill Ritter has dipped below 50% in approval ratings, but still would beat two potential challengers:
A new survey from Public Policy Polling finds that Democratic Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter would beat possible Republican candidates Tom Tancredo and Bob Beauprez.

Ritter led Beauprez, the former Congressman, 46% to 40%. The governor held a 52-38% advantage over Tancredo, also a former Congressman.

Ritter's approval rating, split at 47/40 according to this survey, has decreased a little bit since December 2008, when nearly half of respondents approved of his job performance and only 36% disapproved.[Pols emphasis]

This negative change may be a result of declining approval among Hispanics in light of Ritter's decision to replace Ken Salazar with Michael Bennet.

Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter “may have some fence-mending to do” with Hispanic voters after choosing Denver Public Schools Superintendent Michael Bennet to replace Sen. Ken Salazar, rather than picking another Hispanic politician, according to a survey released Wednesday by Public Policy Polling (PPP). Ritter saw his support among Hispanics tumble by 28 points since mid-December, when Salazar opened up the Senate vacancy by accepting a nod to be secretary of the interior.

“Bill Ritter would probably be re-elected if the election was now,” PPP president Dean Debnam said in a letter accompanying the survey’s release. “But, he’s certainly not unbeatable, and it could be a competitive race next year with the right Republican candidate.