GILPIN COUNTY, Colo. -- Barack Obama gave Democrats a big victory, but it wasn't a clean-sweep for Democrats in Colorado.

Gov. Bill Ritter's severance tax, Amendment 58, failed handily.

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"We put time, energy and effort into that. But the voters have spoken, and they spoke pretty clearly," Ritter said.

Jeff Halferty is one of those Coloradans who voted for Obama, but against Amendment 58.

"I really don't think that's appropriate," said Halferty who also voted against 51, a state sales tax increase. "We have a very high sales tax in Pitkin County (where he resides) and (taxes) are (important) at some point. But again, people are looking to save money, especially now with the economy."

Amendement 50 was one of the few amendments that passed. But Amendment 50 is more about gaming than the tax structure.

For Halferty and thousands of other Coloradans, it appears it was about the candidate, not the party, and about the issue, not the party behind it. Those voters are known as "ticket splitters."

"I think the voters looked at all the amendments, and in a bad economy I think they largely said, 'No'," Ritter said.