2012 United States presidential election in Colorado

The 2012 United States presidential election in Colorado took place on November 6, 2012, as part of the 2012 United States presidential election in which all 50 states plus the District of Columbia participated. Colorado voters chose nine electors to represent them in the Electoral College via a popular vote pitting incumbent Democratic President Barack Obama and his running mate, Vice President Joe Biden, against Republican challenger and former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney and his running mate, Congressman Paul Ryan. Obama and Biden carried Colorado with 51.49% of the popular vote to Romney's and Ryan's 46.13%, thus winning the state's 9 electoral votes by a 5.36% margin.[2]

Main article: 2012 United States presidential election
2012 United States presidential election in Colorado
November 6, 2012
Turnout71.17% [1]
 
Nominee Barack Obama Mitt Romney
Party Democratic Republican
Home state Illinois Massachusetts
Running mate Joe Biden Paul Ryan
Electoral vote 9 0
Popular vote 1,323,101 1,185,243
Percentage 51.49% 46.13%
County Results
President before election

Barack Obama
Democratic

 Elected President

Barack Obama
Democratic

Elections in Colorado
Federal government
Presidential elections
Presidential caucuses
U.S. Senate elections
U.S. House elections
State government
General elections
Gubernatorial elections
State Senate elections
State House elections
Ballot measures
2004
2006
2008
2010
2012
2018
2020
Aurora
Mayoral elections
Colorado Springs
Mayoral elections
Denver
Mayoral elections

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 he had lost to McCain in 2008. Romney's most populated county wins were in El Paso County, where Colorado Springs is located, and Weld County, a suburb of Denver 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 Roosevelt in 1936. It was also the first time Colorado had voted Democratic in a close election since 1948.

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 is the most recent time rural Conejos County, Huerfano County and Las Animas County voted for the Democratic candidate.

General election
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.

Candidate Ballot Access:

  • 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
  • Jerry White/Phyllis Scherrer, Socialist Equality

Polling
See also: Statewide opinion polling for the 2012 United States presidential election § Colorado

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%.[3] The final pre-election poll showed Obama leading Romney 52% to 46%, which was accurate compared to the results. [4]


Results
2012 United States presidential election in Colorado
Party Candidate Running mate Votes Percentage Electoral votes
Democratic Barack Obama Joe Biden 1,323,101 51.49% 9
Republican Mitt Romney Paul Ryan 1,185,243 46.13% 0
Libertarian Gary Johnson Jim Gray 35,545 1.38% 0
Green Jill Stein Cheri Honkala 7,508 0.29% 0
Constitution Virgil Goode Jim Clymer 6,234 0.24% 0
Peace & Freedom Roseanne Barr Cindy Sheehan 5,059 0.20% 0
Unaffiliated Jill Ann Reed Tom Cary 2,589 0.10% 0
Justice Rocky Anderson Luis J. Rodriguez 1,260 0.05% 0
Others Others 1,028 0.04% 0
America's Party Thomas Hoefling Jonathan D. Ellis 679 0.03% 0
Socialism and Liberation Gloria La Riva Filberto Ramirez Jr. 317 0.01% 0
Socialist Stewart Alexander Alex Mendoza 308 0.01% 0
American Third Position Merlin Miller Harry Bertram 266 0.01% 0
Socialist Workers James Harris Alyson Kennedy 192 0.01% 0
Socialist Equality Jerry White Phyllis Scherrer 189 0.01% 0
Totals 2,569,518 100.00% 9

By county
County Obama% Obama# Romney% Romney# Others% Others# Total
Adams57.30%100,64940.40%70,97202.30%4,039175,660
Alamosa57.03%3,81140.48%2,70502.50%1676,683
Arapahoe54.03%153,90544.09%125,58801.88%5,368284,861
Archuleta39.92%2,67957.70%3,87202.38%1606,711
Baca22.38%46774.70%1,55902.92%612,087
Bent42.16%81555.61%1,07502.22%431,933
Boulder69.79%125,09127.89%49,98102.32%4,165179,237
Broomfield51.88%16,96645.90%15,00802.22%72632,700
Chaffee48.77%5,08648.62%5,07002.61%27210,428
Cheyenne15.82%17281.78%88902.39%261,087
Clear Creek54.44%3,11942.42%2,43003.14%1805,729
Conejos54.11%2,21344.87%1,83501.03%424,090
Costilla73.67%1,34024.52%44601.81%331,819
Crowley35.81%53561.85%92402.34%351,494
Custer32.08%86866.08%1,78801.85%502,706
Delta29.13%4,62268.79%10,91502.07%32915,866
Denver73.69%222,01824.27%73,11102.04%6,158301,287
Dolores26.98%33469.39%85903.63%451,238
Douglas36.40%61,09462.20%104,39701.40%2,357167,848
Eagle56.49%12,79241.56%9,41101.95%44122,644
El Paso38.64%111,81959.08%170,95202.28%6,585289,356
Elbert25.49%3,60372.63%10,26601.88%26614,135
Fremont32.98%6,70464.81%13,17402.21%44920,327
Garfield46.42%11,30551.47%12,53502.11%51324,353
Gilpin56.82%1,89240.42%1,34602.76%923,330
Grand45.14%3,68452.11%4,25302.74%2248,161
Gunnison58.35%5,04438.65%3,34103.00%2598,644
Hinsdale38.42%22959.23%35302.35%14596
Huerfano52.78%1,95344.49%1,64602.73%1013,700
Jackson25.62%21671.17%60003.20%27843
Jefferson51.31%159,29646.45%144,19702.23%6,937310,430
Kiowa14.43%11882.76%67702.81%23818
Kit Carson22.72%83875.49%2,78501.79%663,689
La Plata53.18%15,48943.92%12,79402.90%84529,128
Lake60.81%1,83936.31%1,09802.88%873,024
Larimer51.61%92,74745.84%82,37602.55%4,584179,707
Las Animas50.32%3,44547.66%3,26302.02%1386,846
Lincoln24.23%55274.06%1,68701.71%392,278
Logan29.87%2,71268.06%6,17902.07%1889,079
Mesa32.78%23,84665.25%47,47201.97%1,43272,750
Mineral44.84%29153.00%34402.16%14649
Moffat21.65%1,33076.43%4,69501.92%1186,143
Montezuma36.97%4,54260.24%7,40102.78%34212,285
Montrose30.61%6,13867.58%13,55201.82%36420,054
Morgan36.47%3,91261.55%6,60201.98%21210,726
Otero44.73%3,64753.74%4,38201.53%1258,154
Ouray51.58%1,64646.41%1,48102.01%643,191
Park41.46%3,86256.20%5,23602.34%2189,316
Phillips26.01%58872.40%1,63701.59%362,261
Pitkin68.03%6,84930.04%3,02401.94%19510,068
Prowers31.32%1,51966.60%3,23002.08%1014,850
Pueblo56.02%42,55141.99%31,89401.98%1,50675,951
Rio Blanco16.94%56881.22%2,72401.85%623,354
Rio Grande45.00%2,47852.99%2,91802.02%1115,507
Routt56.75%7,54741.13%5,46902.12%28213,298
Saguache63.83%1,86532.99%96403.18%932,922
San Juan52.88%26642.15%21204.97%25503
San Miguel70.50%2,99227.19%1,15402.31%984,244
Sedgwick31.46%41966.14%88102.40%321,332
Summit61.14%9,34736.44%5,57102.41%36915,287
Teller32.42%4,33365.12%8,70202.46%32913,364
Washington18.13%46880.43%2,07601.43%372,581
Weld42.51%49,05055.27%63,77502.22%2,558115,383
Yuma21.65%98776.55%3,49001.80%824,559

Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic

Democratic caucuses

In 2012, Barack Obama ran unopposed in the Colorado Democratic caucus.

Republican caucuses
2012 Colorado Republican caucuses
February 7, 2012 (2012-02-07)
 
Candidate Rick Santorum Mitt Romney
Home state Pennsylvania Massachusetts
Delegate count 6 14
Popular vote 26,614 23,012
Percentage 40.3% 34.9%
 
Candidate Newt Gingrich Ron Paul
Home state Georgia Texas
Delegate count 0 4
Popular vote 8,445 7,759
Percentage 12.8% 11.8%
Colorado results by county
  Rick Santorum
  Mitt Romney
  Newt Gingrich
  Tie

2012 U.S. presidential election
Democratic Party
Republican Party
Minor parties
Related races
2012

The Republican caucuses were held on "Republican Party Precinct Caucus Day" (February 7, 2012).[5] Caucus locations opened on 9 PM, February 7, 2012,[6] with 36 delegates at stake; 33 of which are tied to the caucuses while 3 are unpledged RNC delegates.[7] 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.

Results with 100% (2,917 of 2,917 precincts) reporting:

Colorado Republican caucus, February 7, 2012[8]
Candidate Votes Percentage Projected delegate count Convention Results [9][10]
MSNBC
[11]		 GP
[12]
Rick Santorum 26,614 40.31% 6 6 6
Mitt Romney 23,012 34.85% 13 14 13
Newt Gingrich 8,445 12.79% 0 0 0
Ron Paul 7,759 11.75% 3 0 0
Rick Perry 52 0.08% 0 0 0
Jon Huntsman 46 0.07% 0 0 0
Michele Bachmann 28 0.04% 0 0 0
Others 71 0.11% 0 0 0
Unprojected delegates: 14 0 0
Unpledged delegates: 0 16 17
Totals: 66,027 100.00% 36 36 36
Key:Withdrew
prior to contest

Conventions

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.

  • 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.
Convention Results[9][13]
Candidate 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th State Party leaders Total
Uncommitted 2 2 2 2 0 1 1 4 3 17
Mitt Romney 0 0 1 0 1 2 1 8 0 13
Rick Santorum 1 1 0 1 2 0 1 0 0 6
Total 21 12 3 36

See also

References
  1. "Election Results 2012" (PDF). sos.state.co.us. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
  2. "2012 General Election". Colorado Department of State. Retrieved 22 November 2012.
  3. https://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2012/president/co/colorado_romney_vs_obama-2023.html#polls
  4. https://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2012/president/co/colorado_romney_vs_obama-2023.html#polls
  5. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-11-10. Retrieved 2011-08-16.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  6. "Colorado GOP moves up 2012 caucuses to Feb. 7". Denver Post. Associated Press. September 24, 2011. Retrieved October 3, 2011.
  7. "Republican Delegate Allocation". The Green Papers. Retrieved 2011-12-03.
  8. "2012 Colorado GOP Presidential Caucus Results". Colorado Republican Party. Archived from the original on 2012-02-10. Retrieved 2012-02-09.
  9. "National Delegate Results". cologop.org. Colorado Republican Party. Retrieved 23 April 2012.
  10. The Republic,CO GOP Assembly Archived 2012-04-18 at the Wayback Machine (April 22, 2012)
  11. "Republican Caucuses " (May 7, 2012). MSNBC.
  12. "Republican Caucus"
  13. Bartels, Lynn (14 April 2012). "Colorado Republicans split delegate votes between Romney, unified Paul and Santorum supporters". denverpost.com. Denver Post. Retrieved 23 April 2012.
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