As in 2008, the key to Obama's victory was Democratic dominance in the Denver area, sweeping not just the city but also the heavily populated suburban counties around Denver, particularly Adams, Arapahoe, and Jefferson counties; as well as winning Larimer County, home to Fort Collins. Obama also took nearly 70% of the vote in Boulder County, home to Boulder; and won Chaffee County, which voted Democratic for the first time since 1964. Romney's most populated county wins were in El Paso County, where Colorado Springs is located; and Weld County, a suburb of Denver and home to Greeley.
This election solidified Colorado's transformation from a historically Republican-leaning state into a Democratic-leaning swing state. Obama's 2012 victory in the state, on the heels of his 2008 victory, marked the first time that the Democrats had carried Colorado in two consecutive elections since the landslide re-election of Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1936, the first time that the state had voted Democratic in a close election since 1948, and the first time since 1964 that a sitting Democratic president carried Colorado.
Colorado served as the tipping-point state for Obama's overall victory in the presidential election; that is, the first state to give a candidate their 270th electoral vote when all states are arranged by their margins of victory. Colorado was also the tipping-point state for Obama's 2008 victory. This marks the second time in history that a president was elected and re-elected by winning the same tipping-point state, after Richard Nixon was carried to victory by Ohio twice in 1968 and 1972.
As of 2020, this remains the most recent occasion in which rural Conejos County, Huerfano County, and Las Animas County have voted for the Democratic candidate. This is also the last time that Colorado voted to the right of Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Nevada, Iowa, New Hampshire, and Pennsylvania (by 0.02%), that Colorado was the tipping point state in a presidential election, and that the tipping point state voted to the left of the popular vote.
Caucuses
Democratic
Incumbent President Barack Obama ran unopposed in the Colorado Democratic caucus.
The Republican caucuses were held on "Republican Party Precinct Caucus Day" (February 7, 2012).[3] Caucus locations opened on 9 PM, February 7, 2012,[4] with 36 delegates at stake; 33 of which are tied to the caucuses while 3 are unpledged RNC delegates.[5] The event occurred alongside the Minnesota Republican caucuses as well the Missouri Republican primary. The race was widely expected to be won by Mitt Romney even on the day of the caucus, but a strong surge by Rick Santorum across all three races that day carried him to a close victory.
There is no formal system of allocating delegates to candidates in any step of the election process. At each meeting the participants decides what the best course of action is. None of the 36 delegates are legally bound to vote for a candidate.[citation needed]
12–13 April: Seven congressional conventions elects 3 National Convention delegates each and also elects delegates for the state convention.
14 April: State convention elects 12 National Convention delegates.
On the campaign trail, President Obama watches as graduates toss their hats during the United States Air Force Academy commencement ceremony at Falcon Stadium, USAF Academy in Colorado Springs, May 23, 2012.
Virgil Goode/Jim Clymer, Constitution
Barack Obama/Joseph Biden, Democratic
Mitt Romney/Paul Ryan, Republican
Gary Johnson/James P. Gray, Libertarian
Jill Stein/Cheri Honkala, Green
Stewart Alexander/Alex Mendoza, Socialist
Rocky Anderson/Luis J. Rodriguez, Justice
Roseanne Barr/Cindy Shehan, Peace and Freedom
James Harris/Alyson Kennedy, Socialist Workers
Tom Hoefling/J.D. Ellis, America's
Gloria La Riva/Filberto Ramirez Jr., Socialism and Liberation
Merlin Miller/Harry V. Bertram, American Third Position
Jill Reed/Tom Cary, Twelve Visions Party
Thomas Robert Stevens/Alden Link, Objectivist
Shella "Samm" Tittle/Matthew A. Turner, We the People
Incumbent Barack Obama started off with a wide lead in polls ranging from 1 to 13 points, which continued throughout the early summer of 2012. On August 6, Romney won his first poll, 50% to 45%. Throughout the rest of the summer, and September, with the exception of a few points, Obama won almost every poll but narrowly. In October, Romney gained momentum and the race throughout October was essentially tied, with neither candidate taking a significant lead. The last week before the election, Obama gained momentum and won each of the 4 pre-election polls. The average of the last 3 pre-election polls showed Obama leading Romney 49.7% to 46.3%.[12] The final pre-election poll showed Obama leading Romney 52% to 46%, which was accurate compared to the results. Washington Post rated this race "Toss-Up."[13][14]
Results
2012 United States presidential election in Colorado
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