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 [2] 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 [3]? Or that registration on the final day would require offices to remain open past closing time? [4] In 2004, 2.1 million Coloradans voted and President Bush beat Sen. John Kerry by 100,000 votes [5]. While the surge of new Democratic voters seems promising for Sen. Obama [6], 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 [7] 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 [8], things are looking up for the Democrats. But with four weeks to go, anything can happen.