October 30, 2020 10:43 AM UTC

Get More Smarter on Friday (October 30)

• 4 Comments
• by: Colorado Pols

[We’re just going to keep this here]: STOP! If you still have a mail ballot at home, DO NOT DROP IT IN THE MAIL. We are close enough to Election Day that you now need to take your completed ballot to a local collection box; visit GoVoteColorado.com for more information. Let’s Get More Smarter. If you think we missed something important, please include the link in the comments below (here’s a good example). If you are more of an audio learner, check out The Get More Smarter Podcast. And don’t forget to find us on Facebook and Twitter.

CORONAVIRUS AND VOTING INFO…

*Colorado Coronavirus info:
CDPHE Coronavirus website 

*Daily Coronavirus numbers in Colorado:
http://covid19.colorado.gov

*How you can help in Colorado:
COVRN.com

*Locate a COVID-19 testing site in Colorado:
Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment 

*Register to vote or get other election-related information:
GoVoteColorado.com

► As The New York Times reports, the United States just recorded its worst week yet regarding the COVID-19 pandemic:

The country reported a record of more than 500,000 new coronavirus cases in the past week.

It’s not just a few areas driving the surge, as was the case early on. Half of U.S. counties saw new cases peak during the past month. Almost a third saw a record in the past week.

Meanwhile, as POLITICO reports, Vice President Mike Pence hasn’t been participating in coronavirus task force meetings FOR MORE THAN A MONTH.

Locally, the Jefferson County Public Health Department has issued new COVID-19 guidelines. Summit County and Mesa County have also added new restrictions.

► This is crazy. As The Washington Post reports:

Early voting in Texas on Friday surpassed the total turnout from the 2016 election, with four days left until Election Day.

More than 9 million people have cast ballots early in Texas, according to the secretary of state’s office. In 2016, the Lone Star State’s total turnout was just shy of 9 million.

Texans flocked to polling centers when early voting began on Oct. 13, forming long lines that stretched for blocks in some places. The Biden campaign has narrowed its gap in Texas in recent weeks, trailing President Trump by about three percentage points, thanks to a surge in early voting by Democrats.

The Colorado Sun has more on massive voter turnout here in Colorado.

► Westword spends some time going through the not-so-greatest hits from Lauren “Q*Bert” Boebert. 

► Democrat John Hickenlooper closes out his 2020 Senate campaign with another solid ad:

Hickenlooper’s final ad looks a lot like his first ad of this cycle, a positive direct-to-camera spot filmed on his porch. #cosen #copolitics pic.twitter.com/yihXYIfTqo

— Justin Wingerter (@JustinWingerter) October 30, 2020

Meanwhile, Sen. Cory Gardner’s closing ad is that spot you may have seen that opens with a speech from former President John F. Kennedy.

More political (and coronavirus) news is available right after the jump…

Now Only Partially Coronavirus-Related…

► Republican Congressional candidate Lauren “Q*Bert” Boebert is hosting a GOTV rally today in Colorado Springs.

► So, you know that fake “October Surprise” story about Hunter Biden’s laptop? Turns out it might be so fake that it wasn’t even originally created by a real person.

► Take this 2020 Colorado political quiz from Ernest Luning of the publication formerly known as the Colorado Statesman.

► Colorado Newsline examines the state of play in the battle for majority control of the U.S. Senate.

► Colorado Public Radio reports on the virtual stumping going on in Colorado on behalf of candidates for President.

► Sorry, President Trump, but we’ll just deliver the food instead.

► Back in August we wondered if character would matter in the race for CO-03. The Colorado Times Recorder wonders if anything matters.

► The Trump administration cancelled the endangered species status of the gray wolf.

► The Denver Post looks at long shot efforts by Republicans to win back some State Senate seats on Tuesday.

► The seemingly never-ending Recall Polis effort is still not doing very well.

► One in ten Coloradans are using the new COVID-19 tracking app.

► El Paso County in Texas is shutting down non-essential businesses for two weeks in order to combat the spread of COVID-19.

Your Daily Dose Of ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ 

► Access Hollywood? Never heard of it!

► Things seems to be going great for Rudy Giuliani!

Rudy Giuliani now resorting to personally filmed rants about Joe Biden being the prince of darkness because a Fox Business host cleverly asked him what the difference between what he’s doing and Steele Dossier is and he imploded on tv. It’s vulgar. pic.twitter.com/MWxE14XAzC

— Robert J. DeNault (@robertjdenault) October 30, 2020

ICYMI

► Senator Cory Gardner will probably lose his bid for re-election on Tuesday. He has nobody to blame but himself.

► Don’t miss the latest episode of The Get More Smarter Podcast, featuring an in-depth interview with the “Dean of the Delegation,” Congresswoman Diana DeGette.

Don’t forget to give Colorado Pols a thumbs up on Facebook and Twitter. 

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