With incumbent Governor Bill Ritter out of the way, it's a different ballgame for Colorado Democrats. Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper has now moved ahead of his likeliest Republican opponent, Scott McInnis, in Colorado's race for governor.

The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of likely voters in the state shows Hickenlooper with a 49% to 45% lead over McInnis. A month ago, McInnis, a former congressman, had a three-point lead on Hickenlooper, 45% to 42%.

Just one percent (1%) of Colorado voters now prefer some other candidate given this match-up, and six percent (6%) remain undecided.

Ritter was trailing McInnis 48% to 40% in December prior to his announcement that he would not seek reelection.

(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.

Lieutenant Governor Jane Norton now posts a 14-point lead over incumbent Democrat Michael Bennett, but her lead over Bennet’s intraparty challenger, Andrew Romanoff, is not as big in the race for the U.S. Senate in Colorado.

Both parties will choose their Senate and governor nominees in August 10 primaries, but Hickenlooper and McInnis for now are expected to be the gubernatorial choices.

Last month, McInnis also held a six-point lead over then-possible candidate Ken Salazar, who resigned his U.S. Senate seat last year to join President Obama's Cabinet as secretary of the Interior. Salazar's name was prominently mentioned after Ritter's announcement, but he quickly said he had no interest in the governor's race and endorsed Hickenlooper.

At this point, Hickenlooper edges McInnis among both male and female voters. Voters not affiliated with either party prefer the Democrat by five points.

Hickenlooper remains the better-known candidate at this point. Thirty-five percent (35%) view the mayor very favorably. Twelve percent (12%) regard him very unfavorably. Just eight percent (8%) have no opinion of Hickenlooper.

McInnis is viewed very favorably by 13% and very unfavorably by 14%, but 19% have no opinion of him.

At this point in a campaign, Rasmussen Reports considers the number of people with strong opinions more significant than the total favorable/unfavorable numbers.

Rasmussen Reports has released recent polls on the 2010 governor's races in Arizona, California, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, New Hampshire, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and South Carolina.

Rasmussen Reports also has surveyed Senate races in Arkansas, California, Illinois, Kentucky, Missouri, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, Ohio and Florida. LINK Most portray a troubling electoral picture for Democrats in this November's midterm elections.

In Colorado, Rasmussen Reports polled on two races during the 2008 campaign. In the race for president, Rasmussen polling showed Obama with 51% and McCain with 45%. The final results were Obama 54% McCain 45%. In the 2008 Colorado race for U.S. Senate, Rasmussen polling showed Mark Udall beating Bob Schaffer 51% to 44%. Udall won 53% to 42%.

In the 2006 race for Governor, Rasmussen polling showed Bill Ritter leading Bob Beauprez by twelve, 51% to 39%. Ritter won by fifteen, 56% to 41%. In the 2004 presidential race, Rasmussen polling in Colorado showed George W. Bush defeating John Kerry by five, 50% to 45%. Bush won the state by five, 52% to 47%.

See all Rasmussen Reports 2008 state results for president, Senate and governor. See 2006 results for Senate and governor. See 2004 state results for president.

Please sign up for the Rasmussen Reports daily e-mail update (it’s free) or follow us on Twitter or Facebook. Let us keep you up to date with the latest public opinion news.

See survey questions and toplines. Crosstabs are available to Premium Members only.