The Denver Post reports on the latest Quinnipiac/Washington Post/Wall St. Journal/ Colorado poll that finds Senator Barack Obama leading John McCain by four points, 49% to 45%. The Post summarizes the findings:

Barack Obama is viewed as the candidate of change, allowing the Democratic candidate for president to regain his lead among likely voters in Colorado, according to the latest poll by Quinnipiac University of Hamden, Conn. After falling behind Sen. John McCain in July and August, the Illinois senator moved ahead 49 percent to 45 percent…

….In Colorado, 46 percent of likely voters say Obama will bring change, compared with 22 percent for McCain and 26 percent who say neither will bring change. Obama leads 55-40 percent among likely Colorado female voters, while men back McCain 49-42 percent. White voters back McCain 51-44 percent as Latino voters go with Obama 68-26 percent. Obama and McCain are tied 48-48 percent with voters 18 to 34 years old, while voters 35 to 54 back Obama 52-42 percent. Voters over 55 go 47 percent with McCain and 46 percent with Obama.

On the vice-presidential candidates:

Colorado’s likely voters believe that McCain’s selection of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as a running mate is a good choice by 55 percent to 38 percent. They also believe that Obama’s choice of Sen. Joe Biden is a good choice by 52 percent to 32 percent.

The majority of voters said the economy is the most important issue and supported Obama in that area. As to who would make the better commander-in-chief, a majority of those polled chose McCain.

A second and less reported Colorado poll was released yesterday by Public Policy Project (PPP). Its findings show a greater lead for Obama, 51% to 44% and a sharp decline of support for Gov. Sarah Palin:

Sarah Palin's popularity with Colorado voters over the last couple weeks has plummeted, and as it has Barack Obama has opened up his biggest lead yet in a PPP survey of the state.

Immediately after the Republican convention 41% of Coloradoans said John McCain's choice of Palin to join him on the ticket made them more likely to vote for him while 38% said it made them less likely to do so. Now the number of people saying Palin's selection makes them less likely to vote for McCain has climbed to 47% with the number of people viewing it favorably dropping to 38%.

Among Independent voters:

The movement over the last couple weeks has been particularly acute with independent voters. 56% of them say that the Palin choice makes them less likely to support McCain and what was a 49-38 lead for Obama with that group is now a 58-31 advantage.

The PPP poll also had good news for Rep. Mark Udall in the Senate race: He's leading Bob Shaffer 48 to 40.

Full PPP poll results are here (pdf).