One day after KUSA 9News and SurveyUSA released a poll showing Democratic gubernatorial candidate Bill Ritter leading Republican Bob Beauprez by 22 percentage points, the Fort Collins Coloradoan reported “recent polls suggest” that Beauprez “could be” closing in on Ritter. The Coloradoan noted that “most publicly available polls” show “Beauprez behind” Ritter but provided no evidence for its assertion that Beauprez “could be” closing in. In fact, the latest installments of all but one publicly available poll show Ritter with a double-digit lead over Beauprez.

The article, by Coloradoan reporter Kevin Darst, also discussed the congressional race between 4th District U.S. Rep. Marilyn Musgrave (R-Fort Morgan) and challenger Angie Paccione (D-Fort Collins).

From Darst's November 3 Fort Collins Coloradoan article, “GOP tour rolls statewide”:

With Election Day four days away, most publicly available polls have Musgrave leading her race and Beauprez behind in his, though recent polls suggest Paccione could be closing in on Musgrave and Beauprez could be doing the same to Ritter.

“I'm doing very well,” Musgrave said as she boarded one of the two enormous coaches. “I have a burst of energy as I get closer to the finish line.”

Beauprez and Musgrave will also get a pick-me-up from President Bush at a rally Saturday in Greeley. Bush is making stops nationwide to stump for Republican candidates in tight races.

The Coloradoan's suggestion that Beauprez “could be” closing in on Ritter echoes Beauprez's recent claim that he is “closing the gap,” as an October 31 Rocky Mountain News article quoted him as saying. The News article noted that Beauprez was “urging supporters to ignore polls showing him trailing Bill Ritter by double digits” and said Beauprez “cit[ed] in part an online Wall Street Journal-Zogby poll showing him within 2 percentage points of Ritter.” As the News reported, “Some pollsters, however, doubt the accuracy of online polling, fearing it can be skewed by regular survey participants and a void of seniors, low-income voters and others who don't use the Internet.” A subsequent online Zogby poll, released October 31, showed Beauprez leading by 0.2 percentage points and had a margin of error of 4 percentage points.

However, the latest installments of all other publicly released polling, including polling released more recently than October 31, show Ritter leading by double digits. The most recent 9News/SurveyUSA poll was released at 1:45 p.m. ET November 2 -- a day before the Coloradoan published its article. The poll, conducted October 30-November 1, showed Ritter with a 22-percentage-point lead and had a 3.8-percentage-point margin of error. A previous 9News/SurveyUSA poll, conducted October 20-22, showed Ritter with an 18-percentage-point lead and had a 4.1-percentage-point margin of error.

Similarly, a Ciruli Associates poll, released October 27, showed Ritter with a 19-percentage-point lead and had a margin of error of 4.4 percentage points. A previous Ciruli poll, conducted September 26-October 2, showed Ritter with a 10-percentage-point lead and had a 4.4-percentage-point margin of error.

A Denver Post/Mason-Dixon poll, conducted October 24-26, showed Ritter leading by 12 percentage points with a 4-percentage-point margin of error. A previous Denver Post/Mason-Dixon poll, conducted October 3-5, showed Ritter leading by 15 percentage points and had a 4-percentage-point margin of error.

A Rasmussen Reports poll, conducted October 22, showed Ritter with a 12-percentage-point lead and had a 4.5-percentage-point margin of error. A previous Rasmussen Reports poll, conducted September 19, showed Ritter with a 16-percentage-point lead and also had a 4.5-percentage-point margin of error.

On November 3, the same day the Coloradoan reported “recent polls suggest ... Beauprez could be” closing in on Ritter, the Rocky Mountain News published the results of a new Public Opinion Strategies poll, conducted October 28-30. The poll, which had a margin of error of 4.38 percentage points, showed Ritter leading by 22 percentage points. The News reported, “With time running out, Republican Bob Beauprez has failed to gain any ground on Democrat Bill Ritter in the Colorado governor's race.” A previous Rocky Mountain News/CBS4/Public Opinion Strategies poll, conducted September 10-12, showed Ritter with a 17-percentage-point lead and had a margin of error of 4.38 percentage points.