Poll: Only Romney would be competitive against Obama in Colorado

{mosads}Obama, who won Colorado easily in 2008, would defeat Gingrich 50 percent to 42 percent in the state, while Mitt Romney is within the margin of error, only trailing Obama 45 percent to 47 percent.

Obama’s lead over Gingrich is even more startling considering how unpopular the president is with Coloradans right now.

Obama’s approval rating in the state is at 45 percent, while 50 percent disapprove, and among white voters only 42 percent approve of the president’s performance, versus 54 percent who disapprove.

The president’s strength in the state lies with independent voters, who view him favorably by a margin of 49 percent to 42 percent. Obama leads Gingrich among Colorado independents by 24 points – 56 percent to 32 percent.

As poor as Obama’s approval rating is in Colorado right now, voters in the Centennial State have an even less favorable view of Gingrich.

Gingrich’s favorability in Colorado is a miserable 32 percent, with 55 percent saying they have a negative view of the former House speaker. Among independents, only 25 percent have a favorable view of Gingrich, against 59 percent who have a negative view.

Besides Romney, the only other candidate to be within single digits of Obama in Colorado is Ron Paul, who trails the president by nine points.