Nader took 5.25% in CO in 2000. Gore took 42.39%. So the Left got 47.64% compared to Bush's 50.75% (3.11% difference).
In 2004, Nader's support went to Kerry. Together, they got 47.62% (0.02% less than in 2000). Bush's rose almost a full point to 51.69% (4.07% more than the Left).
Viewed this way, CO changed very little from 2000. Considering Kerry's birth in CO and the massive Kerry effort here (compared with almost zero by Gore in 2000), these numbers aren't that hopeful for the Dems in 2008.
Well thats giving all of Nader's votes to Gore, it was more along the lines of 5-2. If you take into consideration Nader in other states as well, the only state that moved more left than Colorado is still Vermont
Nader drew more from Gore, but he did draw from both sides of the aisle. Bottom line is the state was only 1.5% more Republican than the national average after being 8.5% in the 2000 election, and if you take Nader into consideration (using that 5-2 factor) it still shows about a 4.5% Dem swing vs the national average from 5,5% more GOP to 1% more GOP than the national average. In a 50/50 election in 08 Colorado is a definant swing state which would probably go slightly Dem
Yes, this is an old, old thread, but I needed something to take my mind off what's going on now. It's amazing how prescient this prediction ended up being. And now, fifteen years later, Colorado looks like it is moving out of reach for Republicans for the foreseeable future.
Political trends are really something. Imagine telling an Atlas poster from 2005 that Missouri is Safe R, Georgia votes to the left of Ohio, and that Texas is a potential battleground state.
Although tbh, much of Colorado’s zoom to the left was because of Denver’s rapid growth. I live here and it’s noticeably different from back in 2008 (but I was little so I may not remember correctly)
