The latest Rasmussen Reports election poll in Colorado finds Denver District Attorney Bill Ritter (D) edging out GOP Representative Bob Beauprez by five points, 43% to 38%, in the race for Governor.

The two likely nominees have been neck-and-neck for a few months now. In April Beauprez led by a couple points, 39% to 37%. In March, Ritter had a point on Beauprez, 41% to 40%.

Ritter's late-February lead over Beauprez, 40% to 33%, was substantial, but a blip; at the time, popular Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper had just squelched speculation that he might seek the Democratic nomination.

Still, Colorado has been trending toward the Democrats. And Republicans have been bogged down recently by in-fighting, having to do partly with the nationwide Republican malaise; partly with the passage last November of a measure, Referendum C, that weakens the state's tax-capping TABOR law; and partly with voting procedures at last month's assembly.

Another Republican candidate, Marc Holtzman, is refusing to fade out of the picture, though he now trails Ritter by 14 percentage points and collected only 28% of the votes at the contentious GOP State Assembly last month.

Holtzman needed 30% to get on the primary ballot, and many party members have urged him to bow out. After submitting petition signatures to force a primary campaign, the Colorado Secretary of State determined that the number was insufficient. The survey was conducted before Holtzman’s petition for candidacy was ruled invalid.

Holtzman has decided he will appeal the Secretary of State’s decision.

Colorado's primary, if needed, is August 8.

Ritter is viewed favorably by 55%, unfavorably by 29%. Beauprez is viewed favorably by 45%, unfavorably by 40%. Holtzman is viewed favorably by 42%.

Colorado voters tend to trust the GOP a little more than the Democrats on national security issues. On the economy, the electorate is split; 46% trust the GOP more, 46% trust the Democrats more. Neither party currently has much advantage on immigration and Iraq.

But on energy policy, 52% trust the Democrats more, 37% trust the GOP more.