Despite a 14-point Republican edge in party registration, Matsunaka currently trails Musgrave by only four points (41% to 37%) while one-fifth of the electorate remains undecided (21%).
 

Matsunaka's strong showing is remarkable in a district that favored George W. Bush over Al Gore by 19 points in the 2000 presidential election.

It indicates that voters in the Colorado 4th are prepared to split their tickets to support a fiscally conservative Democrat against an extreme right-wing Republican.
 

After voters hear positive profiles of both candidates, Matsunaka leads Musgrave, 46% to 44%. Voters are highly receptive to Matsunaka's message and his compelling biography as a fourth-generation Coloradan and son of a decorated World War II veteran.
 

Matsunaka's moderate record of balancing the budget while fighting for working families is a good fit for this district, while Musgrave's extreme right-wing views are out of step.
 

While Republicans have an edge in party registration, only 42% of the voters call themselves supporters of the NRA and just 31% are born-again or fundamentalist Christians. A majority of voters (54%, including 64% of independent voters) are pro-choice.
 

The evolving issue environment in Colorado's 4th District favors Matsunaka. Voters are most concerned about education, jobs and health care. The district is economically populist and wants a representative who will fight privatization of Social Security, take action to lower prescription drug prices, support public education, and protect children and seniors. Musgrave is out of step with the district on all of these issues.
 

Voters are alarmed to hear about Musgrave's record in the State Senate including her votes against lower prescription drug prices for seniors, for cuts in K-12 and higher education, against children's health care coverage and child immunization, and against legislation to improve the quality of nursing home care.
 

Matsunaka holds a 7-point lead over the other Republican candidate in the primary, attorney Jeff Bedingfield.

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1.  400 likely voters were interviewed in Colorado's 4th Congressional District from July 9-11, 2002. The margin of sampling error for this survey is +/-4.9%.

More about Senator Matsunaka's legislative accomplishments and plans can be found at his campaign website: www.stan2002.com. A press kit for reporters is available at www.stan2002.com/press.html.