In an interesting analysis of recent polls regarding the Colorado Senate race, the Hill Research Consultants showed a 41 to 38 Robert Shaffer (R) lead over his Democratic rival Mark Udall, which is nearly a 4 point margin error from the Rasmussen results and the Mason-Dixon outlier.

Yet, the Hill Research Consultant poll was conducted by known members of the Shaffer campaign and (according to the source) is intended to provide Shaffer supporters "with guarded optimism."

Nonetheless, each one of the polls points to a significant variable that is more prominent in this election than perhaps it's been since the '72 Presidential Election: the youth vote.

2008 has already panned out to be a historic election year by sheer number. Yet, in this particular Senate race, it will be interesting to see the turnout and/or influence of the "new" vote on the outcome. As it is, I'd argue that Shaffer holds more of a lead than the polls suggest in that he carries with his candidacy a consistent vote that bar-none will be at the booth when the time comes.

Udall's voter turnout seems to be up in the air, but not underestimated.