Rep. Cory Gardner, the party’s Senate candidate — and its best shot at breaking a decade-long losing streak in top Colorado races — burst into the room wearing a blue-checkered work shirt and jeans, and immediately began shaking hands and posing for pictures.
Rick Murray, 69, a financial broker, shook his head in admiration. “You see enthusiasm like that out of anybody else?” he said.
It’s an enthusiasm that’s mounting as Republicans watch public polls breaking their way in the final days of a hard-fought election season in this perennial swing state. Gardner has led the Democratic incumbent, Sen. Mark Udall, in public polls in recent weeks. The party’s gubernatorial nominee, former Rep. Bob Beauprez, has run neck-and-neck with the incumbent Democratic governor, John Hickenlooper.
Republican enthusiasm is reflected in the early ballot returns. Colorado has overhauled its elections and this year every registered voter received a mail ballot. Citizens can register to vote until Election Day and cast their ballot at any local polling station. Republicans usually lead in early ballot returns here, and this year they have opened up a hefty lead of nearly 65,000-votes with more than 500,000 ballots in.
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