Democrats had better make a good impression at their convention this week, because the presidential race in Colorado is so tight it could come down to a handful of votes.

So says a new Quinnipiac Polling Institute survey of Colorado voters released Sunday, as delegates begin to arrive for the convention.

Presumptive Democratic nominee Barack Obama enters the convention "in a dead heat" with Republican rival John McCain. McCain has 47 percent, Obama 46 percent.

But, a poll analysis added, "This latest survey might have more good news for McCain than might appear at first glance. Despite the closeness of the horse race numbers, he is viewed favorably 53 – 34 percent compared to Obama’s 48 – 39 percent."

Colorado voters trust Obama more than McCain to handle energy issues and the economy, but they see McCain as as better bet to handle Russia, a domestic terrorist incident or conflict between Iran and Israel.

"If the national election is close in November, a handful of votes in Colorado will be decisive,” said Peter A. Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. “Right now, independent voters are split with 46 percent for Sen. McCain and 44 percent for Sen. Obama.
“Who wins the election may wind up depending on whether voters look inward to the economy and fuel prices or outward to world hot spots.”

To read the poll:http://www.quinnipiac.edu/polling.xml