Interest in this year's Presidential election has brought a surge of new voters to Colorado. Yesterday was the final day to register to vote. There are some interesting trends. The Rocky Mountain News reports the latest numbers from the Secretary of State show party preference as:

• Independents....1,052,705
• Republicans......1,049,520
• Democrats...... 1,010,532

In the swing counties, the Rocky reports the tally is:

Arapahoe
• Independents......105,648
• Republicans......112,317
• Democrats.......112,642

Adams
• Independents......77,716
• Republicans......55,792
• Democrats.......75,947

Jefferson
• Independents.....121,328
• Republicans......126,350
• Democrats........115,075

Larimer
• Independents......74,042
• Republicans......73,812
• Democrats.......58,544

Overall, Colorado now has 3.1 million voters. Who would have thought that in suburban, Republican-dominated Arapahoe County, Democrats would outnumber Republicans? Or that registration on the final day would require offices to remain open past closing time? In 2004, 2.1 million Coloradans voted and President Bush beat Sen. John Kerry by 100,000 votes. While the surge of new Democratic voters seems promising for Sen. Obama, neither candidate can take the state for granted, given the predominance of Independent voters. Colorado's rural voters in the smaller counties will be seeing a push by Democrats for their votes this week, as Former Governor Roy Romer, Sen. Ken Salazar, Rep. John Salazar and others embark on a tour to introduce Obama's new farm plan. Among the stops: Sterling, Fort Morgan, Windsor, Pueblo, Canon City, Salida, Gunnison, Montrose, Grand Junction and Glenwood Springs. With the latest battleground state polling showing gains by Obama, things are looking up for the Democrats. But with four weeks to go, anything can happen.