Colorado gun law backers facing recall

It may be lost amid the Syria talk but there's a big proxy battle going on in Colorado today, where voters will decide whether to recall two state senators over their votes on gun laws.

The recall measures pit national, big money interests - including New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg's PAC and the National Rifle Association - against each other in what's widely seen as a proxy fight for the ongoing national debate on the matter.

State Senate president John Morse and state senator Angela Giron, both Democrats, drew anger over their support for recent state measures that limited ammunition rounds, among other provisions. Morse represents a Colorado Springs-area district and Giron, one in Pueblo.

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If you want to get a feeling for the passions on both sides of this, just check out the sample ballot language, which lists out the reasons for and against recall. One doesn't see choices laid out like this every day.

The yes on recall side, written by proponents, lays out the grounds citing "contempt for the constitutional liberties of the people," and "contempt for firearm manufacturers and for the rights of Colorado citizens." The no side, arguing to turn aside the recall, argues that "out of state billionaires and extremists" are at work and urges voters to "say no to felons and spouse abusers buying guns."

Millions have been spent on television, mail and get-out-the-vote efforts for both sides. Turnout is key: while Colorado usually holds elections mostly by mail, this one is in-person, with an early voting window that's been open for a few days and culminates Tuesday.

There's been some tracking of party registration by turnout, figuring this might break down along party lines, but it isn't clear that it will. And another wrinkle added to the guns debate is - as is often the case in recalls - there's also been procedural debate over whether the recall is appropriately being used at all when the matter is a policy disagreement rather than lawbreaking, but Colorado does allow it.

Whatever the outcome, the winner is going to nationally trumpet this local election as a win and a symbol for their side in the national debate.

Anthony Salvanto

Anthony Salvanto, Ph.D., is CBS News' executive director of elections and surveys. He oversees the CBS News Poll and all surveys across topics and heads the CBS News Decision Desk that estimates outcomes on election nights

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