Quinnipiac Colorado General Election

• Barack Obama 52% (49%)
• John McCain 43% (45%)

Favorable / Unfavorable (Net)

• Joe Biden 54% (40%) / 25% (27%) [+29%]
• Barack Obama 58% (58%) / 35% (33%) [+23%]
• John McCain 51% (56%) / 41% (35%) [+10%]
• Sarah Palin 39% (43%) / 47% (35%) [-8%]

Do you think Joe Biden is qualified to be Vice President?

• Yes 82%
• No 11%

Do you think Sarah Palin is qualified to be Vice President?

• Yes 44%
• No 51%

Who do you think better understands the economy?

• Obama 51% (47%)
• McCain 39% (41%)

Who do you think better understands foreign policy?

• McCain 58% (63%)
• Obama 34% (29%)

Do you think Barack Obama has shown effective leadership in dealing with the financial crisis facing the nation?

• Yes 48%
• No 44%

Do you think John McCain has shown effective leadership in dealing with the financial crisis facing the nation?

• Yes 39%
• No 54%

Survey of 1,088 likely voters was conducted October 8-12. The margin of error is +/- 3 percentage points. Results from the poll conducted September 14-21 are in parentheses.

Inside the numbers:

Post debate, Obama leads 54 – 38 percent among Colorado women voters, and inches ahead of McCain 49 – 47 percent among men. White voters go 48 percent for Obama and 47 percent for McCain. Independent voters back the Democrat 51 – 40 percent.

The economy is the most important issue in the election, 54 percent of Colorado voters say. Obama better understands the economy, voters say 51 – 39 percent, while McCain better understands foreign policy, voters say 58 – 34 percent.

Voters who watched the October 7 debate say 56 – 24 percent that Obama did a better job.

In the U.S. Senate race, U.S. Rep. Mark Udall, the Democrat, leads Republican Robert Schaffer 54 – 40 percent, compared to 48 – 40 percent September 23.

Colorado voters support 63 – 21 percent a state constitutional amendment outlawing discrimination or preferential treatment in public employment, contracting or education.

“They key to winning elections in Colorado is independent voters and Sen. Obama has blown open the race there with his 11-point lead among them. These same voters say 3-1 that the Democrat won the last debate, which drives one more nail into McCain’s coffin,” Brown said.