A new poll shows pro-life Colorado Senate candidate Ken Buck leading pro-abortion Sen. Michael Bennet. Buck is also getting help by the fact that early voting numbers continue favoring Republicans.
The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of likely voters finds Buck earning 48% support to Bennet’s 44%. Three percent prefer another candidate and six percent remain undecided.
“Two weeks ago, the candidates were in a near tie with Buck leading 47% to 45%, the closest the race had been in eight months of surveying. In surveys since March, Buck has earned 44% to 51% support, while backing for Bennet has ranged from 38% to 45%,” Rasmussen noted.
The new polling data comes as early voting numbers from the Colorado Secretary of State show Republicans widening their lead.
Two weeks ago, state officials indicated 81,545 Republicans have cast early ballots compared with just 71,325 Democrats. Some 41,000 unaffiliated voters have also cast ballots and, if they voted the way polls show, a majority likely voted for Buck.
Now, according to new figures out Wednesday, Republicans have cast 40,000 more ballots than Democrats Approximately 26 percent of registered Republicans have voted compared with about 22 percent of registered Democrats and a lower percentage of unaffiliated voters. That four point edge is up from two percent two weeks ago.
Buck is carrying the pro-life standard against Bennet, who has repeatedly voted for taxpayer funding for abortions.
“As a father of two, Ken believes in the value of life and is opposed to abortion except to protect the life of the mother. As U.S. Senator, Ken will oppose federal funding of abortion and will fight to protect the life of the unborn,” Buck’s web site says.
Once receiving the nomination to face Bennet, who was appointed to the position and immediately turned off Colorado voters by supporting the ObamaCare health care bill and the abortion funding it contains, Buck became a target.
The Bennet campaign and the Democratic party aggressively attacked Buck with television commercials claiming he is extreme because he opposes abortions in cases of rape or incest because he believes the unborn child should not be killed for the crimes of the attacker.
Buck, who has indicated he will vote pro-life on key matters that will come before the Senate like taxpayer funding of abortion, pro-life legislation and ObamaCare, holds a clear pro-life position in comparison to Bennet.
Conversely, Bennett has compiled a 0% pro-life rating from the National Right to Life Committee.
The senator voted for the health care restructuring bill that includes abortion funding, supporting taxpayer funding of groups that promote and perform abortions overseas, refused to support health care coverage for unborn children, and voted to hurt the free speech legislative and election efforts of pro-life groups.
Tony Perkins, the head of the Family Research Council, has already confirmed Buck’s pro-life bona fides, and issued an endorsement for him. [related]
“Ken Buck represents a return to the adherence of our Constitution and the principles that made this nation the great country that it still is. We look forward to supporting his campaign for the Senate and to helping him achieve his victory over the liberal Democrat candidate, Michael Bennet,” Perkins added.
He concluded, “I cannot emphasize enough how important it is that we send those who respect faith, family and freedom to the United States Congress. Ken Buck has proven that he is that man. We most heartily endorse him and look forward to seeing him in the halls of the Senate here in Washington.”
