Barack Obama is pulling away from John McCain in Colorado, according to the latest Fox News/Rasmussen Reports telephone survey in the state.

Obama leads McCain by six points, 51% to 45%. A week ago, Obama had a one-point lead, and a week before that McCain was up by two.

Eighty-two percent (82%) of Colorado voters are now certain who they will vote for, up four points from a week ago. Eighteen percent (18%) say they may still change their minds, including one-third of unaffiliated voters in the state.

For Obama the findings are good news since moving Colorado to the Democratic column is considered critical to his winning the White House. A classic swing state, Colorado went for George W. Bush in 2000 and 2004 and GOP nominee Bob Dole in 1996 after supporting Democrat Bill Clinton four years earlier.

Nationally, Obama has opened a steady lead over McCain in the Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll and Electoral College projections. Colorado is one of several battleground states where Obama has gained ground in this week’s round of Fox News/Rasmussen Reports surveys.

In Colorado, McCain has a five-point lead among men but trails Obama by 15 points among women voters.

Obama leads by 14 points among unaffiliated voters.

McCain is viewed favorably by 53% and unfavorably by 46%. Obama has 55% favorables and 43% unfavorables.

While voters are evenly divided on which candidate they trust more overall, Obama has the edge 49% to 44% in voter trust on the economy and jobs. A plurality of Colorado voters (44%) say the economy is the most important issue in the election.

Twenty-one percent (21%) say national security is the most important issue, and voters trust McCain more, 50% to 44%, in this area.

Faced with the toughest decision of their lives, 47% say they would ask McCain for advice, but 44% would ask Obama.

Forty-seven percent (47%) say they would be extremely or very comfortable with Obama in the White House, while 40% say the same of McCain. Forty-eight percent (48%) feel that way about Obama’s running mate, Joseph Biden, as vice president versus 38% for GOP vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin.

New polling was released Monday night with statewide results from Colorado,Florida, Missouri, Ohio, and Virginia. See an overview of all five state polls and the latest Electoral College projections. A total of 270 Electoral Votes are needed to win the White House (see 50-State Summary).

See results from recent polling on Senate races.

Just 29% of Colorado voters give President Bush good or excellent marks for job performance, while 52% say he’s doing a poor job.

Governor Bill Ritter, a Democrat, is rated good or excellent for his job performance by 43% of state voters, but 25% say his performance is poor.

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