Romney, who appeared in Colorado on Sunday and will do so again on Monday, has run even or ahead of President Obama in the Centennial State throughout the summer, despite the Democrat’s 8-point win there last time. (Ryan is scheduled to appear there on Wednesday.) Obama crept into the lead in some polls released last week, although a Quinnipiac University/CBS News/New York Times survey reported that the battle stood at a dead heat.

Romney will have to resist Obama’s ongoing post-convention bounce to win the state, but if he can, even Democrats acknowledge it represents a legitimate opportunity for Romney to claim victory. Obama, who visited the state early and often during his first term, will have to fight to reclaim Colorado’s prized nine electoral votes.