Colorado Republican Primary, 2012

The 2012 United States presidential election in Colorado took place on November 6, 2012, as part of the 2012 United States presidential election in which all 50 states plus the District of Columbia participated. Colorado voters chose nine electors to represent them in the Electoral College via a popular vote pitting incumbent Democratic President Barack Obama and his running mate, Vice President Joe Biden, against Republican challenger and former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney and his running mate, Congressman Paul Ryan. Obama and Biden carried Colorado with 51.49% of the popular vote to Romney's and Ryan's 46.13%, thus winning the state's nine electoral votes by a 5.36% margin.

As in 2008, the key to Obama's victory was Democratic dominance in the Denver area, sweeping not just the city but also the heavily populated suburban counties around Denver, particularly Adams, Arapahoe, and Jefferson counties; as well as winning Larimer County, home to Fort Collins. Obama also took nearly 70% of the vote in Boulder County, home to Boulder; and won Chaffee County, which he had lost to McCain in 2008. Romney's most populated county wins were in El Paso County, where Colorado Springs is located; and Weld County, a suburb of Denver and home to Greeley.

This election solidified Colorado's transformation from a historically Republican-leaning state into a Democratic-leaning swing state. Obama's 2012 victory in the state, on the heels of his 2008 victory, marked the first time that the Democrats had carried Colorado in two consecutive elections since the landslide re-election of Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1936. It was also the first time Colorado had voted Democratic in a close election since 1948, along with the first time since 1964 in which a sitting Democratic president carried Colorado.

Colorado served as the tipping-point state for Obama's overall victory in the presidential election; that is, the first state to give a candidate their 270th electoral vote when all states are arranged by their margins of victory. Colorado was also the tipping-point state for Obama's 2008 victory. This marks the second time in history that a president was elected and re-elected by winning the same tipping-point state, after Richard Nixon was carried to victory by Ohio twice in 1968 and 1972.

As of 2020, this is the most recent time rural Conejos County, Huerfano County, and Las Animas County voted for the Democratic candidate. This is also the last time Colorado voted to the right of Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Nevada, Iowa, New Hampshire, and Pennsylvania (by 0.02%). This is also the last time a tipping point state voted left of the popular vote.

Caucuses

Democratic

Incumbent President Barack Obama ran unopposed in the Colorado Democratic caucus.

Republican

The Republican caucuses were held on "Republican Party Precinct Caucus Day" (February 7, 2012). Caucus locations opened on 9 PM, February 7, 2012, with 36 delegates at stake; 33 of which are tied to the caucuses while 3 are unpledged RNC delegates. The event occurred alongside the Minnesota Republican caucuses as well the Missouri Republican primary. The race was widely expected to be won by Mitt Romney even on the day of the caucus, but a strong surge by Rick Santorum across all three races that day carried him to a close victory.

Conventions

There is no formal system of allocating delegates to candidates in any step of the election process. At each meeting the participants decides what the best course of action is.
None of the 36 delegates are legally bound to vote for a candidate.
* 12–13 April: Seven congressional conventions elects 3 National Convention delegates each and also elects delegates for the state convention.
* 14 April: State convention elects 12 National Convention delegates.

General election

Ballot access

* Virgil Goode/Jim Clymer, Constitution
* Barack Obama/Joseph Biden, Democratic
* Mitt Romney/Paul Ryan, Republican
* Gary Johnson/James P. Gray, Libertarian
* Jill Stein/Cheri Honkala, Green
* Stewart Alexander/Alex Mendoza, Socialist
* Rocky Anderson/Luis J. Rodriguez, Justice
* Roseanne Barr/Cindy Shehan, Peace and Freedom
* James Harris/Alyson Kennedy, Socialist Workers
* Tom Hoefling/J.D. Ellis, America's
* Gloria La Riva/Filberto Ramirez Jr., Socialism and Liberation
* Merlin Miller/Harry V. Bertram, American Third Position
* Jill Reed/Tom Cary, Twelve Visions Party
* Thomas Robert Stevens/Alden Link, Objectivist
* Shella "Samm" Tittle/Matthew A. Turner, We the People
* Jerry White/Phyllis Scherrer, Socialist Equality

Polling

Incumbent Barack Obama started off with a wide lead in polls ranging from 1 to 13 points, which continued throughout the early summer of 2012. On August 6, Romney won his first poll, 50% to 45%. Throughout the rest of the summer, and September, with the exception of a few points, Obama won almost every poll but narrowly. In October, Romney gained momentum and the race throughout October was essentially tied, with neither candidate taking a significant lead. The last week before the election, Obama gained momentum and won each of the 4 pre-election polls. The average of the last 3 pre-election polls showed Obama leading Romney 49.7% to 46.3%. The final pre-election poll showed Obama leading Romney 52% to 46%, which was accurate compared to the results. Washington Post rated this race "Toss-Up."

Results

By county

Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic

* Chaffee (largest city: Salida)

By congressional district

Obama won 4 of 7 congressional districts including one held by a Republican.https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2013/07/09/1220127/-Daily-Kos-Elections-2012-election-results-by-congressional-and-legislative-districts

See also

* 2012 Republican Party presidential primaries
* 2012 Republican Party presidential debates and forums
* Results of the 2012 Republican Party presidential primaries
* Colorado Republican Party

References

External links

* of the Colorado Republican Party
The Green Papers
for Colorado
The Green Papers
Major state elections in chronological order

{{U.S. presidential primaries

Colorado
United States President
2012