BALLOT ISSUES FACE LATE THREAT

Late attention from opponents could threaten proposed constitutional
amendments to boost education spending and legalize the use of medical
marijuana, according to a new poll.

Both are still winning, but each has fallen sharply from previous highs,
according to the latest Denver Post/9News/KOA News Radio poll, conducted
between Saturday and Tuesday. Amendment 23, which would spend some of the
state's surplus revenue on public schools, still enjoys the support of 56
percent of Colorado voters. But that is down from a high of 65 percent
recorded only a week earlier.

And the medical marijuana measure, Amendment 20, wins 58 percent support,
down from a 67 percent in a baseline poll at the end of September.

The poll, conducted by Ciruli Associates, surveyed 400 registered voters.

The margin of error is such that all results could be off 4.9 points in
either direction.

The new numbers show that activists opposing the measures may just now be
focusing on them, pollster Floyd Ciruli said.

"Historically, some things get decided early," he said.

"It's clear that we've made a decision on growth and taxes. But anything
that is below 60 (percent support) - all of those are within the range that
things can definitely happen toward the last week." Having practically
killed the Amendment 21 tax cut (now supported by just 28 percent of
Colorado voters) and the Amendment 24 growth-control measure (30 percent
support), some political activists now are addressing education and
marijuana, he said.

"Now they're turning their eyes to what they think is the third and most
deadly - from their point of view - amendment that could affect the state
budget," he said. Opponents argue that the education amendment could divert
money from other state programs such as prisons and road construction.

Jon Caldara, president of the conservative Independence Institute and a
leader of Amendment 23 opposition, predicted support for the initiative will
continue to decline.

"All the polls show it trending very dramatically downward, so it's just a
matter of time," he said. "The question is, will Election Day roll around
quickly enough for them to still hold on to a victory? It's going to be
very, very tight."

But Cary Kennedy, the former Romer administration budget analyst and lawyer
who wrote the amendment, pointed to the minority of voters opposing it.
Though 15 percent of the respondents said they were still undecided, only 29
percent said they would vote against it.

"You're still seeing an almost 2to-1 (difference), support over opposed,"
she said