Quinnipiac University Poll

February 5, 2014 - Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; Economy/Jobs, Education, Guns Are Top Priorities

Colorado voters approve 52 - 39 percent of the job Gov. John Hickenlooper is doing and give him comfortable leads over possible Republican challengers, but are divided 45 - 45 percent on whether he deserves reelection this November, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today.

This is the first registered voter survey by the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University in which Gov. Hickenlooper's approval rating tops 50 percent. There is a wide gender gap as women approve 60 - 29 percent while among men 44 percent approve and 48 percent disapprove. Approval is 84 - 6 percent among Democrats, but Republicans disapprove 63 - 28 percent. Independent voters are divided as 45 percent approve and 46 percent disapprove.

Hickenlooper tops possible Republican challengers:

·         48 - 39 percent over former U.S. Rep. Tom Tancredo; ·         46 - 40 percent over Secretary of State Scott Gessler; ·         47 - 37 percent over State Sen. Greg Brophy; ·         47 - 38 percent over State Sen. Mike Kopp.

"His team may have tanked in the Super Bowl, but Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper gets a bit of good news in improving approval job numbers as no serious challenge to his reelection has been mounted yet," said Tim Malloy, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.

"Voters are divided on whether they want to give Gov. Hickenlooper four more years, but they aren't rallying around any potential challengers. They give the gov a 47 - 37 percent favorability while former U.S. Rep. Tom Tancredo gets a negative 25 - 31 percent favorability."

In an open-ended question, where respondents can give any answer, a total of 20 percent of Colorado voters name the economy or jobs as the most important issue in this year's governor's race, while 10 percent list education or education funding, another 10 percent list gun issues and 4 percent cite taxes. No other issue tops 3 percent.

Colorado voters approve 53 - 37 percent of the way the governor is handling the economy and jobs, but disapprove 47 - 39 percent of the way he is handling education and disapprove 54 - 31 percent of the way he is handling gun policy.

Death Penalty, Gun Control

Voters also disapprove 36 - 28 percent of the way Hickenlooper is handling the death penalty. The death penalty should be continued, 66 percent of voters say, while 28 percent say it should be abolished and replaced with a sentence of life in prison with no chance of parole.

In a mixed message, voters oppose 52 - 43 percent stricter new gun control laws in Colorado, but support 86 - 13 percent requiring background checks for all gun buyers. Voters are divided on a ban on high capacity ammunition magazines with 50 percent in favor of a ban and 47 percent opposed.

With a large gender gap, Colorado voters support 50 - 45 percent allowing teachers and school officials to carry guns at school. Men support the measure 56 - 40 percent, with women opposed 50 - 43 percent. Arming teachers would do more to reduce gun violence in schools than stricter gun laws, voters say 47 - 39 percent. Women favor stricter gun laws 46 - 39 percent while men favor armed teachers 54 - 31 percent.

"Coloradans don't think much of where Gov. Hickenlooper comes down on guns and think more guns in schools might be a better answer," Malloy said.

From January 29 - February 2, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,139 registered voters with a margin of error of +/- 2.9 percentage points. Live interviewers call land lines and cell phones.

The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts public opinion surveys in Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Florida, Ohio, Virginia, Iowa, Colorado and the nation as a public service and for research.

For more information, visit http://www.quinnipiac.edu/polling, call (203) 582-5201, or follow us on Twitter.

1. If the election for Governor were being held today, and the candidates were John Hickenlooper the Democrat and Tom Tancredo the Republican, for whom would you vote?

AGE IN YRS..............                      Tot    Rep    Dem    Ind    Men    Wom    18-29  30-49  50-64  65+ Hickenlooper         48%    17%    94%    37%    41%    56%    47%    52%    45%    47% Tancredo             39     71      1     46     44     33     34     32     46     43 SMONE ELSE(VOL)       1      2      -      2      2      1      -      3      1      1 WLDN'T VOTE(VOL)      3      3      1      4      5      1      6      3      2      1 DK/NA                 8      8      4     10      8      9     12      9      7      7

TREND: If the election for Governor were being held today, and the candidates were John Hickenlooper the Democrat and Tom Tancredo the Republican, for whom would you vote?

Feb 05  Nov 19  Aug 23  Jun 13                      2014    2013    2013    2013 Hickenlooper         48      46      46      42 Tancredo             39      41      45      41 SMONE ELSE(VOL)       1       1       1       2 WLDN'T VOTE(VOL)      3       3       1       3 DK/NA                 8       9       8      11

2. If the election for Governor were being held today, and the candidates were John Hickenlooper the Democrat and Scott Gessler the Republican, for whom would you vote?

AGE IN YRS..............                      Tot    Rep    Dem    Ind    Men    Wom    18-29  30-49  50-64  65+ Hickenlooper         46%     8%    93%    40%    39%    54%    47%    50%    45%    42% Gessler              40     78      1     42     47     33     38     34     46     44 SMONE ELSE(VOL)       1      1      -      2      1      1      -      1      1      2 WLDN'T VOTE(VOL)      2      1      1      4      4      1      4      3      1      1 DK/NA                10     12      5     12      9     11     11     12      7     11

TREND: If the election for Governor were being held today, and the candidates were John Hickenlooper the Democrat and Scott Gessler the Republican, for whom would you vote?

Feb 05  Nov 19  Aug 23  Jun 13                      2014    2013    2013    2013 Hickenlooper         46      45      47      42 Gessler              40      40      42      40 SMONE ELSE(VOL)       1       1       1       2 WLDN'T VOTE(VOL)      2       3       1       3 DK/NA                10      11      10      13

3. If the election for Governor were being held today, and the candidates were John Hickenlooper the Democrat and Greg Brophy the Republican, for whom would you vote?

AGE IN YRS..............                      Tot    Rep    Dem    Ind    Men    Wom    18-29  30-49  50-64  65+ Hickenlooper         47%     9%    94%    37%    39%    54%    49%    52%    44%    42% Brophy               37     74      2     40     45     30     36     30     45     41 SMONE ELSE(VOL)       1      1      -      2      1      1      -      2      1      2 WLDN'T VOTE(VOL)      3      3      1      5      5      2      4      4      3      2 DK/NA                11     13      4     16      9     13     11     12      8     14

TREND: If the election for Governor were being held today, and the candidates were John Hickenlooper the Democrat and Greg Brophy the Republican, for whom would you vote?

Feb 05  Nov 19  Aug 23  Jun 13                      2014    2013    2013    2013 Hickenlooper         47      44      47      43 Brophy               37      38      40      37 SMONE ELSE(VOL)       1       2       1       2 WLDN'T VOTE(VOL)      3       3       2       4 DK/NA                11      13      10      14

4. If the election for Governor were being held today, and the candidates were John Hickenlooper the Democrat and Mike Kopp the Republican, for whom would you vote?

AGE IN YRS..............                      Tot    Rep    Dem    Ind    Men    Wom    18-29  30-49  50-64  65+ Hickenlooper         47%    10%    94%    38%    39%    55%    49%    52%    43%    43% Kopp                 38     72      1     42     45     30     32     33     43     42 SMONE ELSE(VOL)       2      2      -      3      3      1      4      2      1      3 WLDN'T VOTE(VOL)      2      1      1      4      3      2      3      3      2      1 DK/NA                11     14      4     13     10     12     12      9     11     12

TREND: If the election for Governor were being held today, and the candidates were John Hickenlooper the Democrat and Mike Kopp the Republican, for whom would you vote?

Feb 05  Nov 19                      2014    2013 Hickenlooper         47      44 Kopp                 38      40 SMONE ELSE(VOL)       2       2 WLDN'T VOTE(VOL)      2       3 DK/NA                11      11

5. Is your opinion of John Hickenlooper favorable, unfavorable or haven't you heard enough about him?

AGE IN YRS..............                      Tot    Rep    Dem    Ind    Men    Wom    18-29  30-49  50-64  65+ Favorable            47%    22%    83%    41%    41%    55%    45%    48%    48%    47% Unfavorable          37     58      3     46     46     26     25     33     42     43 Hvn't hrd enough     13     16     11     11     11     16     30     15      7      6 REFUSED               3      4      2      2      2      3      -      4      2      3

TREND: Is your opinion of John Hickenlooper favorable, unfavorable or haven't you heard enough about him?

Feb 05  Nov 19  Aug 23  Jun 13                      2014    2013    2013    2013 Favorable            47      46      49      45 Unfavorable          37      43      42      42 Hvn't hrd enough     13       9       7      11 REFUSED               3       1       2       1

6. Is your opinion of Tom Tancredo favorable, unfavorable or haven't you heard enough about him?

AGE IN YRS..............                      Tot    Rep    Dem    Ind    Men    Wom    18-29  30-49  50-64  65+ Favorable            25%    38%     4%    30%    32%    17%    13%    21%    30%    32% Unfavorable          31     16     56     25     33     29     14     29     38     38 Hvn't hrd enough     43     45     39     42     34     51     72     49     30     28 REFUSED               2      1      1      2      1      2      -      2      2      2

TREND: Is your opinion of Tom Tancredo favorable, unfavorable or haven't you heard enough about him?

Feb 05  Nov 19  Aug 23  Jun 13                      2014    2013    2013    2013 Favorable            25      30      34      32 Unfavorable          31      30      30      29 Hvn't hrd enough     43      39      34      37 REFUSED               2       1       1       1

24. Do you approve or disapprove of the way John Hickenlooper is handling his job as Governor?

AGE IN YRS..............                      Tot    Rep    Dem    Ind    Men    Wom    18-29  30-49  50-64  65+ Approve              52%    28%    84%    45%    44%    60%    61%    54%    47%    48% Disapprove           39     63      6     46     48     29     26     36     46     43 DK/NA                10      9     10      9      8     11     13     10      7     10

TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way John Hickenlooper is handling his job as Governor?

Feb 05  Nov 19  Aug 23  Jun 13                      2014    2013    2013    2013 Approve              52      48      48      47 Disapprove           39      46      44      43 DK/NA                10       7       8      10

25. Do you approve or disapprove of the way the state legislature is handling its job?

AGE IN YRS..............                      Tot    Rep    Dem    Ind    Men    Wom    18-29  30-49  50-64  65+ Approve              41%    20%    66%    36%    37%    45%    56%    41%    36%    34% Disapprove           47     71     18     52     54     41     35     45     53     51 DK/NA                12      9     16     12     10     15     10     14     11     14

TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way the state legislature is handling its job?

Feb 05  Nov 19  Aug 23  Jun 13                      2014    2013    2013    2013 Approve              41      36      37      36 Disapprove           47      51      50      49 DK/NA                12      13      13      16

29. Do you feel that John Hickenlooper deserves to be reelected, or do you feel that he does not deserve to be reelected?

AGE IN YRS..............                      Tot    Rep    Dem    Ind    Men    Wom    18-29  30-49  50-64  65+ Yes/Deserves         45%    15%    83%    40%    38%    53%    45%    48%    43%    44% No/Does not          45     75      9     51     55     35     40     39     51     49 DK/NA                 9     11      8     10      8     11     15     12      5      7

TREND: Do you feel that John Hickenlooper deserves to be reelected, or do you feel that he does not deserve to be reelected?

Feb 05  Nov 19  Aug 23  Jun 13                      2014    2013    2013    2013 Yes/Deserves         45      42      45      45 No/Does not          45      49      48      44 DK/NA                 9       9       7      11

31. In general, how satisfied are you with the way things are going in Colorado today; are you very satisfied, somewhat satisfied, somewhat dissatisfied, or very dissatisfied?

AGE IN YRS..............                      Tot    Rep    Dem    Ind    Men    Wom    18-29  30-49  50-64  65+ Very satisfied       11%     4%    19%     8%    12%    10%    24%    10%     8%     8% Smwht satisfied      46     29     70     45     37     55     46     54     42     39 Smwht dissatisfied   23     35      8     24     26     19     21     19     24     28 Very dissatisfied    20     32      3     22     24     15      9     16     25     24 DK/NA                 1      -      -      1      1      1      -      1      1      1

TREND: In general, how satisfied are you with the way things are going in Colorado today; are you very satisfied, somewhat satisfied, somewhat dissatisfied, or very dissatisfied?

Feb 05  Nov 19  Aug 23  Jun 13                      2014    2013    2013    2013 Very satisfied       11       9      11      10 Smwht satisfied      46      44      43      44 Smwht dissatisfied   23      26      23      26 Very dissatisfied    20      20      23      20 DK/NA                 1       1       1       -

32. What is the most important issue to you in deciding how to vote for governor this year?

Tot Economy(General)            12% Jobs/Unemployment            7 Economy(Other)               1 Budget(General)              3 Government spending          1 Taxes(General)               4 Education(General)           9 Funding/Spending education   1 Gun Issues/Policy/Control   10 Healthcare                   2 Abortion                     1 Women's Issues               1 Social Issues/Soc Services   2 Elderly Issues               1 Immigration Issues           3 Gay marriage/Gay Issues      1 Marijuana                    3 Environment                  2 Hydro-fracking               2 Gas/Oil/Energy Issues        3 Party/Political Philosophy   3 Bipartisan/Cross party lines/  Coop to get things done     1 Cand cares about people      1 Cand experience              1 Cand honest/trustworthy      2 Other                       13 DK/NA                       10

33. Do you approve or disapprove of the way John Hickenlooper is handling - the death penalty?

AGE IN YRS..............                      Tot    Rep    Dem    Ind    Men    Wom    18-29  30-49  50-64  65+ Approve              28%    13%    46%    26%    28%    28%    41%    29%    23%    23% Disapprove           36     57     16     38     42     30     21     32     42     49 DK/NA                36     30     38     36     30     42     38     39     35     28

TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way John Hickenlooper is handling the death penalty?

Feb 05  Aug 23                      2014    2013 Approve              28      27 Disapprove           36      48 DK/NA                36      25

34. Do you approve or disapprove of the way John Hickenlooper is handling - the economy and jobs?

AGE IN YRS..............                      Tot    Rep    Dem    Ind    Men    Wom    18-29  30-49  50-64  65+ Approve              53%    29%    78%    50%    48%    58%    62%    57%    47%    50% Disapprove           37     62     10     40     42     31     24     32     46     41 DK/NA                10      9     12      9     10     10     15     11      7      9

TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way John Hickenlooper is handling the economy and jobs? (* handling the economy)

Feb 05  Aug 23                      2014    2013*                              Approve              53      50 Disapprove           37      41 DK/NA                10       9

35. Do you approve or disapprove of the way John Hickenlooper is handling - gun policy?

AGE IN YRS..............                      Tot    Rep    Dem    Ind    Men    Wom    18-29  30-49  50-64  65+ Approve              31%     9%    61%    26%    26%    36%    24%    32%    30%    35% Disapprove           54     79     21     59     61     46     51     51     59     54 DK/NA                15     11     18     16     12     19     25     17     11     11

TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way John Hickenlooper is handling gun policy?

Feb 05  Aug 23                      2014    2013                               Approve              31      35 Disapprove           54      52 DK/NA                15      13

37. Do you approve or disapprove of the way John Hickenlooper is handling - education?

AGE IN YRS..............                      Tot    Rep    Dem    Ind    Men    Wom    18-29  30-49  50-64  65+ Approve              39%    18%    63%    35%    36%    42%    36%    40%    35%    45% Disapprove           47     62     24     53     52     41     51     45     50     40 DK/NA                15     20     13     12     13     17     13     15     15     15

38. Would you say that John Hickenlooper - has strong leadership qualities or not?

AGE IN YRS..............                      Tot    Rep    Dem    Ind    Men    Wom    18-29  30-49  50-64  65+ Yes                  60%    41%    84%    55%    55%    65%    63%    61%    59%    53% No                   34     51     12     39     41     28     30     28     37     43 DK/NA                 6      8      4      6      5      8      7     10      3      3

TREND: Would you say that John Hickenlooper has strong leadership qualities or not?

Feb 05  Aug 23                      2014    2013                              Yes                  60      57 No                   34      38 DK/NA                 6       6

39. Would you say that John Hickenlooper - is honest and trustworthy or not?

AGE IN YRS..............                      Tot    Rep    Dem    Ind    Men    Wom    18-29  30-49  50-64  65+ Yes                  59%    40%    84%    55%    55%    64%    58%    57%    58%    65% No                   31     46      7     37     36     26     30     32     34     26 DK/NA                10     14      9      7      9     11     12     11      8      9

TREND: Would you say that John Hickenlooper is honest and trustworthy or not?

Feb 05  Aug 23                      2014    2013                              Yes                  59      56 No                   31      35 DK/NA                10       9

40. Would you say that John Hickenlooper - cares about the needs and problems of people like you or not?

AGE IN YRS..............                      Tot    Rep    Dem    Ind    Men    Wom    18-29  30-49  50-64  65+ Yes                  54%    36%    83%    45%    48%    60%    60%    56%    49%    53% No                   39     57      9     49     46     31     33     35     45     40 DK/NA                 7      7      8      6      6      9      8      9      6      6

TREND: Would you say that John Hickenlooper cares about the needs and problems of people like you or not?

Feb 05  Aug 23                      2014    2013                              Yes                  54      50 No                   39      44 DK/NA                 7       6

41. Do you think John Hickenlooper is too liberal, too conservative, or about right?

AGE IN YRS..............                      Tot    Rep    Dem    Ind    Men    Wom    18-29  30-49  50-64  65+ Liberal              40%    71%     5%    45%    50%    30%    37%    33%    46%    47% Conservative          5      -     10      5      5      5      5      6      4      4 About right          46     18     79     40     38     53     47     49     44     41 DK/NA                 9     10      6     10      7     11     12     12      6      8

TREND: Do you think John Hickenlooper is too liberal, too conservative, or about right?

Feb 05  Aug 23                      2014    2013                              Liberal              40      41 Conservative          5       9 About right          46      43 DK/NA                 9       7

42. Do you support or oppose the stricter new gun control laws in Colorado?

AGE IN YRS..............                      Tot    Rep    Dem    Ind    Men    Wom    18-29  30-49  50-64  65+ Support              43%    12%    81%    38%    35%    51%    44%    41%    45%    43% Oppose               52     83     14     57     62     42     49     53     53     52 DK/NA                 5      5      5      5      4      6      6      6      2      5

TREND: Do you support or oppose the stricter new gun control laws in Colorado?

Feb 05  Nov 19  Aug 22                      2014    2013    2013 Support              43      40      40 Oppose               52      55      54 DK/NA                 5       4       5

43. Do you support or oppose requiring background checks for all gun buyers?

AGE IN YRS..............                      Tot    Rep    Dem    Ind    Men    Wom    18-29  30-49  50-64  65+ Support              86%    86%    97%    83%    81%    92%    95%    84%    83%    90% Oppose               13     13      3     17     18      7      5     16     16      9 DK/NA                 1      1      -      1      1      1      -      1      1      1

TREND: Do you support or oppose requiring background checks for all gun buyers?

Feb 05  Nov 19  Aug 22                      2014    2013    2013 Support              86      85      82 Oppose               13      14      16 DK/NA                 1       1       2

44. Do you support or oppose a statewide ban on the sale of high-capacity ammunition magazines that hold more than 15 bullets?

AGE IN YRS..............                      Tot    Rep    Dem    Ind    Men    Wom    18-29  30-49  50-64  65+ Support              50%    26%    83%    45%    38%    62%    47%    50%    47%    54% Oppose               47     70     15     53     59     35     50     47     51     41 DK/NA                 3      4      2      2      3      4      3      3      2      5

TREND: Do you support or oppose a statewide ban on the sale of high-capacity ammunition magazines that hold more than 15 bullets?

Feb 05  Nov 19  Aug 22                      2014    2013    2013 Support              50      49      49 Oppose               47      48      48 DK/NA                 3       3       3

45. Do you support or oppose allowing teachers and school officials to carry guns on school grounds?

AGE IN YRS..............                      Tot    Rep    Dem    Ind    Men    Wom    18-29  30-49  50-64  65+ Support              50%    74%    19%    53%    56%    43%    61%    50%    48%    43% Oppose               45     19     75     43     40     50     36     45     45     50 DK/NA                 5      7      6      4      4      7      3      4      6      7

46. Which of these do you think would do more to reduce gun violence in schools, having stricter gun laws or armed teachers in schools?

AGE IN YRS..............                      Tot    Rep    Dem    Ind    Men    Wom    18-29  30-49  50-64  65+ Stricter gun laws    39%     9%    77%    33%    31%    46%    36%    38%    39%    40% Armed teachers       47     77     15     48     54     39     57     47     46     41 DK/NA                15     14      8     19     15     15      7     15     15     20

47. Do you think the death penalty should be abolished in Colorado and replaced with life in prison with no chance of parole or do you think Colorado should continue to have the death penalty?

AGE IN YRS..............                      Tot    Rep    Dem    Ind    Men    Wom    18-29  30-49  50-64  65+ Abolished            28%    13%    51%    22%    25%    31%    30%    27%    27%    29% Continue             66     85     41     72     69     63     62     69     68     65 DK/NA                 6      2      8      6      6      6      8      4      6      6

TREND: Do you think the death penalty should be abolished in Colorado and replaced with life in prison with no chance of parole or do you think Colorado should continue to have the death penalty?

Feb 05  Jun 13                      2014    2013                              Abolished            28      24 Continue             66      69 DK/NA                 6       7