Gender gap could be big factor in Colorado U.S. Senate race

It’s not the economy, foreign policy or even health care taking center stage in the race for U.S. Senate, it’s social issues.

“Male and female voting is different here in the United States,” said Josh Dunn, KRDO Political Analyst. “The question is whether it’s driven by gender differences or racial and ethnic differences.”

Whatever those differences, the gender gap is evident in polling.

In a CNN poll released last week, incumbent Sen. Mark Udall was up 11 percent among female voters, but Rep. Corey Gardner was up 20 percent among male voters.

“Perhaps focusing so much on these women’s issues has turned people off to Senator Udall’s campaign,” Dunn said.

Voters in Colorado Springs Tuesday afternoon said constant advertisements aren’t appealing. They, too, are divided in what they want to see from the candidates.

“Strength and character in terms of being informative for our people,” Marcia Curtis said. “A strength that’s going to make us grow.”

“I want to hear about issues that promote human life,” said Thaddeus Bielecki. “Education being the first one, more people being educated, so that more things be developed and produced in the future.”

With one week left until the election, expect more of those ads, and more focus on these issues.

“You just sense they don’t know what else to focus on, and it has worked, but I don’t know if most voters think it’s salient now as it was a few years ago,” Dunn said.

In what some called a surprising move, The Denver Post endorsed Gardner, the first Republican endorsement from the paper in a decade.