Negative Attacks Souring Colorado Voters on GOP

The bruising, highly negative Republican presidential nomination fight appears to be creating a new casualty as the race moves into swing states like Colorado—independent voters, reports the Los Angeles Times. President Obama may have disappointed many voters over the past three years, but the GOP candidates' continuing bashing of each other is turning off a lot of voters even more. Independent voters "want to vote for a Republican, but they've got to like the one we nominate," said a former GOP state chairman. "It's not 'anybody but Obama.'" Independent voters are the dominant political force in Colorado—and other swing states—and appear to be warming to Obama.

While Newt Gingrich had racked up negative opinions from a number of voters polled in the US, now Mitt Romney's negative poll scores appear to be rising, too. One January poll said 42% of independents now had negative feelings about Romney, up from 22% in November. "There's no doubt that independent voters have been somewhat scared away from the Republican field, given the tone of the campaign and just how negative it has become," said one pollster. (More 2012 Presidential Candidates stories.)