Denver Mayor Leads Open Field for Colo. Senate Seat

Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper leads the field of Colorado Democrats to replace Sen. Ken Salazar (D) in the Senate, a new poll found Thursday.

No candidate, however, received support from more than a quarter of Colorado voters in a Public Policy Polling survey.

Twenty-three percent of Colorado voters named Hickenlooper their first choice appointment to fill Salazar’s seat, pending his confirmation as Interior Secretary.

15 percent of Coloradans support the Senator’s sibling, Rep. John Salazar, while state House Speaker Andrew Romanoff garnered the support of 12 percent. Rep. Diane Degette received the support of eight percent of Colorado voters, while six percent said they supported Rep. Ed Perlmutter for the appointment.

Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter, a Democrat, will appoint a successor to Salazar, pending his confirmation. Salazar’s term in swing state Colorado was set to expire in 2010.

The poll, conducted December 16-17, has a 3.7 percent margin of error.