McCain Takes Lead in Colorado GREELEY, CO (KUNC) - John McCain has a new 2 percent lead over Barack Obama among Colorado voters, according to new polling numbers from Quinnipiac University. The poll shows a reversal of voter preferences in June, which gave Obama a 49 to 44 percent lead over McCain in Colorado.

"As for the poll numbers, a lot of that has to do with the $4 per gallon gasoline prices. The energy issue has replaced the Iraq war as the No. 1 issue in many peoples' minds," according to Jody Hope Strogoff, editor and publisher of the Colorado Statesman.

"With the Republicans making a big deal over their American Energy Act, which includes offshore drilling... Republicans think they're poised to do well with voters on this issue, and the poll numbers are backing them up," Strogoff added.

McCain visited Hispanic veterans in Colorado last Friday while rival Barack Obama was on his overseas tour. The Hispanic vote is particularly important in Colorado, and McCain has previously struggled to win over the Hispanic demographic.

Currently, only 29 percent of Colorado Hispanics support McCain, according to the Quinnipiac poll.

"McCain used to support a guest worker program, and used to be more moderate in his immigration stance. Since he became the nominee, he's gotten more conservative, and that's alienated some of his Republican Hispanic supporters," Strogoff said.

Strogoff also said that Hispanics are particularly hurt in bad economic times, and that may cause some Hispanic voters to support Democrat Barack Obama. © Copyright 2009, KUNC