Support for GOP gubernatorial candidate Scott McInnis is eroding among Republicans but he remains a viable candidate even after a plagiarism scandal, according to a new Denver Post poll.
Twenty percent of registered Republican voters who supported McInnis prior to this week’s allegations that he plagiarized previously published material said they will now back another candidate. Another 39 percent of those who originally supported McInnis said they will continue to stand behind him.
However, when given a list of other Republicans who could be the party’s nominee, 64 percent of GOP voters picked another candidate over McInnis.
When asked who would be the “strongest Republican gubernatorial candidate,” former Congressman Tom Tancredo easily led the pack of six choices with 29 percent. McInnis followed with 19 percent and his primary opponent Dan Maes had 13 percent.
U.S. Senate candidate Jane Norton came in with 11 percent, former Colorado Senate minority leader Josh Penry collected 7 percent and University of Colorado president Bruce Benson had 3 percent.
Another 17 percent of the Republican voters polled said they were not sure.
A Denver Post/9NEWS poll last month showed McInnis leading Maes 57 percent to 29 percent among likely GOP primary voters, with 14 percent undecided.
The results indicate that while the national political climate benefits the GOP this year, there may be problems in Colorado.
“The poll reinforces why the Republican Party is worried. That they have a rational basis for being worried,” said Norman Provizer, a political science professor at Metropolitan State College of Denver. “But that doesn’t mean there isn’t support for McInnis. There is a possibility he can stay in and win back those who are abandoning him.”
SurveyUSA, commissioned by the Post, contacted 1,181 registered voters on Thursday. Of those, 73 percent had heard news stories about the plagiarism charges against McInnis.
For questions about the Republican primary, the poll was narrowed to 429 respondents who identified themelves as registered Republicans. Nearly half said McInnis should stay in the race, while 37 percent said he should drop out. Fifteen percent weren’t sure.
The poll’s margin of error for Republican voters ranged from +/- 4.8 percent to +/- 5.7 percent depending on the question.
Tancredo, originally a McInnis supporter, has said that both Maes and McInnis should “both eventually drop out” of the race even if it’s after one wins the primary.
“Neither can win the general election,” he said.
Tancredo said he was “surprised and flattered” by the poll results.
“I want us as a party to get this governor’s seat,” he said. “If I can do it, believe me I will.”
Karen Crummy: 303-954-1594 or kcrummy@denverpost.com