August 10, 2010 08:34 PM UTC

PPP: Bennet Leads Battle-Damaged Field

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• by: Colorado Pols

More from Public Policy Polling today, prospective general election matchup numbers and approval rating spreads to follow up yesterday’s primary poll:

Michael Bennet will begin the general election as the favorite if he wins the Democratic nomination in Colorado today, while a victory by Andrew Romanoff will mean the race starts out as a tossup.

Bennet leads Jane Norton 46-40 and Ken Buck 46-43. Romanoff leads Buck 43-42, but trails Norton 43-42.

Only the Illinois Senate race can match the Colorado one for the unpopularity of all its combatants. Bennet’s approval rating is a 32/48 approval spread. Usually you don’t get reelected with those kinds of numbers but Norton’s favorability split is a net – 16 at 28/44 and Buck’s is even worse at – 20 (26/46). Romanoff has the best numbers at – 2 (35/37) but that may not mean much if Bennet does indeed survive the primary as our poll yesterday suggested he probably would.

The primary has taken a toll on the popularity of every candidate in the race, although it’s been worse for Buck than anyone else…