FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 19, 2008

INTERVIEWS: DEAN DEBNAM 888-621-6988 / 919-880-4888 (serious media inquiries only please, other questions can be directed to Tom Jensen)

QUESTIONS ABOUT THE POLL: TOM JENSEN 919-744-6312

Hickenlooper, Salazar stack up well in possible 2010 matches

Raleigh, N.C. – Could ’s appointment as Interior Secretary have been a blessing in disguise for Democrats? The newest survey from Public Policy Polling indicates that may well be the case.

Over the summer PPP tested Ken Salazar for reelection in possible head to head match ups with former Governor Bill Owens and Congressman . Salazar led Tancredo 49-37 and Owens just 44-41.

The leading candidates from the poll we released yesterday about who Colorado voters would like to see appointed as the new Senator were Denver Mayor and Congressman John Salazar, brother of the outgoing Senator. In possible contests against Owens and Tancredo they each perform better than Ken Salazar did over the summer.

Hickenlooper leads Owens 54-40 and Tancredo 54-37. Salazar has a 52-43 advantage against Owens and a 53-40 edge over Tancredo.

In each of the four possible contests the Democrat has at least a 19 point edge among independents, and wins 16% or more of the Republican vote.

“Usually when a Senator leaves office the conventional wisdom is that the seat is opened up to a higher level of competition,” said Dean Debnam, President of Public Policy Polling. “The truth in this case is that Ken Salazar’s approval numbers were not exactly out of the park, and it looks like either John Hickenlooper or his brother would start out in good shape for a 2010 reelection run.”

PPP surveyed 712 Colorado voters on December 16th and 17th. The survey’s margin of error is +/-3.7%. Other factors, such as refusal to be interviewed and weighting, may introduce additional error that is more difficult to quantify.

Complete results are attached and can be found at www.publicpolicypolling.com.

If you would like an interview regarding this release, please contact Dean Debnam at (888) 621-6988 or 919-880-4888. ###

Public Policy Polling Phone: 888 621-6988 3020 Highwoods Blvd. Web: www.publicpolicypolling.com Raleigh, NC 27604 Email: [email protected] Colorado Survey Results

Q1 If the candidates for the Senate in 2010 were Q4 If the candidates for Senate in 2010 were Democrat John Hickenlooper and Republican Democrat John Salazar and Republican Tom Tom Tancredo, who would you vote for? If Tancredo, who would you vote for? If John John Hickenlooper, press 1. If Tom Tancredo, Salazar, press 1. If Tom Tancredo, press 2. If press 2. If you’re undecided, press 3. you’re undecided, press 3. Hickenlooper...... 54% Salazar...... 53% Tancredo...... 37% Tancredo...... 40% Undecided...... 9% Undecided...... 6% Q2 If the candidates for Senate in 2010 were Q5 If you are a woman, press 1, if a man, press 2. Democrat John Hickenlooper and Republican Women ...... 50% Men...... 50% Bill Owens, who would you vote for? If John Hickenlooper, press 1. If Bill Owens, press 2. Q6 If you are a Democrat, press 1. If a If you’re undecided, press 3. Republican, press 2. If other, press 3. Hickenlooper...... 54% Democrat ...... 39% Owens ...... 40% Republican...... 38% Undecided...... 6% Other...... 23% Q3 If the candidates for Senate in 2010 were Q7 If you are white, press 1. If you are African Republican Bill Owens and Democrat John American, press 2. If you are Hispanic, press Salazar, who would you vote for? If Bill 3. If other, press 4. Owens, press 1. If John Salazar, press 2. If White ...... 79% Hispanic...... 14% you’re undecided, press 3. African American .... 4% Other...... 3% Owens ...... 43% Q8 If you are 18 to 29 years old, press 1 now. If Salazar...... 52% you are 30 to 45, press 2. If you are 46 to 65, Undecided...... 5% press 3. If older than 65, press 4. 18-29...... 8% 46-65...... 40% 30-45...... 22% Older than 65 ...... 30% Q9 Denver Metro Area ...... 60% Rest of State...... 40%

December 16-17, 2008 3020 Highwoods Blvd. Survey of 712 Colorado voters Raleigh, NC 27604 [email protected] / 888 621-6988 Crosstabs

Ge nder Ge nder

Bas e Wom en Men Bas e Wom en Men Hickenlooper/Tancr- Hickenlooper/Owens

edo Hick e nloope r 54% 61% 47% Hickenlooper 54% 60% 48% Ow ens 40% 32% 48% Tancredo 37% 29% 45% Unde cide d 6% 8% 4% Unde cide d 9% 11% 7%

Ge nder Ge nder

Bas e Wom en Men Bas e Wom en Men Owens/Salazar Salazar/Tancredo Ow ens 43% 35% 51% Salazar 53% 59% 47% Salazar 52% 59% 45% Tancredo 40% 32% 49% Unde cide d 5% 7% 4% Unde cide d 6% 9% 4%

December 16-17, 2008 3020 Highwoods Blvd. Survey of 712 Colorado voters Raleigh, NC 27604 [email protected] / 888 621-6988 Crosstabs

Party Party

Bas e Democrat Republican Othe r Bas e Democrat Republican Othe r Hickenlooper/Tancr- Hickenlooper/Owens

edo Hick e nloope r 54% 88% 17% 58% Hickenlooper 54% 84% 20% 58% Ow ens 40% 9% 77% 31% Tancredo 37% 11% 69% 30% Unde cide d 6% 3% 6% 11% Unde cide d 9% 6% 11% 12%

Party Party

Bas e Democrat Republican Othe r Bas e Democrat Republican Othe r Owens/Salazar Salazar/Tancredo Ow ens 43% 12% 79% 35% Salazar 53% 87% 18% 53% Salazar 52% 86% 16% 54% Tancredo 40% 11% 74% 36% Unde cide d 5% 2% 6% 10% Unde cide d 6% 2% 8% 11%

December 16-17, 2008 3020 Highwoods Blvd. Survey of 712 Colorado voters Raleigh, NC 27604 [email protected] / 888 621-6988 Crosstabs

Race Race African African Bas e White American His panic Other Bas e White American His panic Other Hickenlooper/Tancr- Hickenlooper/Owens

edo Hickenlooper 54% 52% 58% 66% 42% Hickenlooper 54% 54% 62% 54% 40% Ow ens 40% 42% 35% 26% 44% Tancredo 37% 37% 35% 41% 46% Undecided 6% 5% 8% 8% 14% Undecided 9% 10% 4% 5% 14%

Race Race African African Bas e White American His panic Other Bas e White American His panic Other Owens/Salazar Salazar/Tancredo Ow ens 43% 45% 38% 32% 49% Salazar 53% 52% 58% 63% 40% Salazar 52% 50% 54% 62% 44% Tancredo 40% 42% 35% 32% 51% Undecided 5% 5% 8% 5% 7% Undecided 6% 6% 8% 5% 9%

December 16-17, 2008 3020 Highwoods Blvd. Survey of 712 Colorado voters Raleigh, NC 27604 [email protected] / 888 621-6988 Crosstabs

Age Age 18- 30- 46- Older 18- 30- 46- Older Bas e 29 45 65 than 65 Bas e 29 45 65 than 65 Hickenlooper/Tancr- Hickenlooper/Owens

edo Hickenlooper 54% 66% 49% 56% 51% Hickenlooper 54% 62% 47% 58% 51% Ow ens 40% 30% 47% 37% 41% Tancredo 37% 33% 41% 36% 38% Unde cide d 6% 4% 4% 7% 7% Unde cide d 9% 5% 12% 6% 12%

Age Age 18- 30- 46- Older 18- 30- 46- Older Bas e 29 45 65 than 65 Bas e 29 45 65 than 65 Owens/Salazar Salazar/Tancredo Ow ens 43% 37% 48% 40% 44% Salazar 53% 62% 53% 57% 46% Salazar 52% 59% 47% 55% 50% Tancredo 40% 34% 40% 38% 46% Unde cide d 5% 4% 5% 5% 6% Unde cide d 6% 4% 7% 5% 8%

December 16-17, 2008 3020 Highwoods Blvd. Survey of 712 Colorado voters Raleigh, NC 27604 [email protected] / 888 621-6988 Crosstabs

Region Region De nve r Re s t of De nve r Re s t of Bas e Metro Area State Bas e Metro Area State Hickenlooper/Tancr- Hickenlooper/Owens

edo Hickenlooper 54% 58% 48% Hickenlooper 54% 57% 49% Ow ens 40% 37% 44% Tancredo 37% 37% 37% Unde cide d 6% 5% 8% Unde cide d 9% 6% 13%

Region Region De nve r Re s t of De nve r Re s t of Bas e Metro Area State Bas e Metro Area State Owens/Salazar Salazar/Tancredo Ow ens 43% 43% 43% Salazar 53% 55% 51% Salazar 52% 52% 52% Tancredo 40% 39% 43% Unde cide d 5% 5% 6% Unde cide d 6% 6% 6%

December 16-17, 2008 3020 Highwoods Blvd. Survey of 712 Colorado voters Raleigh, NC 27604 [email protected] / 888 621-6988