Amendments Split

In the only public poll so far in the 2014 campaign to cover Colorado ballot issues, the USA Today/Suffolk poll found two of the four Colorado ballot issues losing and two winning.  The perennial loser, “personhood,” is behind 10 points, 35 percent to 45 percent. It has lost twice before by large margins and is expected to do so in 2014.

Coloradans haven’t been generous to gaming expansion beyond the current footprint of small mountain communities. But, that doesn’t stop out-of-state interests from trying. This year, it is being sold as a boon for public education funding. It is losing by 11 points in the early poll, 33 percent to 44 percent.

Finally, Jon Caldera appears to have a ballot issue that could pass – a miracle. Open meetings for school boards and labor negotiations has a 20-point lead as it sounds attractive to voters. Expect the Colorado Education Association to weigh in with an effort to defeat it. Their view is secrecy produces better deals than transparency.

Labeling genetically modified food is ahead by 15 points. Voters like more information as consumers than less. Expect Colorado’s substantial food industry to express a view as to why it’s a bad idea.