July 13, 2016 11:39 AM UTC

Get More Smarter on Wednesday (July 13)

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• by: Colorado Pols

Julius Caesar may or may not have been born on this day a long time ago; we’re not doing the math regardless. It’s time to Get More Smarter with Colorado Pols. 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 a visual learner, check out The Get More Smarter Show.

TOP OF MIND TODAY…

► A new poll from Monmouth University has Hillary Clinton leading Donald Trump by 13 points in Colorado — the same margin that Sen. Michael Bennet holds over Republican nominee Darryl Glenn. Both Clinton and Bennet are also doing well in Colorado according to data from Republican polling outfit Harper Polling. As the Denver Post reports:

The survey by Harper Polling found that Sen. Bennet had a 46 percent to 40 percent advantage over Republican rival Darryl Glenn. Clinton, the Democrats’ presumptive nominee for president, was ahead 45 percent to 38 percent over presumptive GOP nominee Donald Trump…

…“Glenn receives less support from Republicans (78 percent) than Bennet does from Democrats (83 percent), a result of lower name identification for Glenn among party voters,” noted Harper Polling. “Bennet holds a comfortable lead among Democratic-leaning moderates (32-48 percent) but Glenn narrows his lead to just 4 percent among independent voters (33-37 percent).”

Less comforting for Bennet, however, is that it was a tie at 38 percent as to whether he deserves re-election versus the feeling that it’s time to give someone new a chance.

We’d take that last caveat with more than one grain of salt, since poll respondents are often inclined to be more interested in something new when the question is this generic. The fact that Glenn receives less support from Republicans than Bennet does from Democrats is much more relevant in our mind, because those numbers aren’t likely to improve for Glenn given his low name ID and far-right policy beliefs. And with the Monmouth University poll showing Bennet with a 13-point lead, it’s safe to say that Bennet is comfortably ahead at this point in the race.

The Colorado Springs Independent ponders whether Glenn will continue to exceed expectations in his bid for U.S. Senate or ultimately flame out in November. If you’re playing at home, go with choice #2.

► We’re still waiting to hear who Republican Presidential candidate Donald Trump will choose as his running mate in advance of next week’s Republican National Convention in Cleveland. While the list of potential Vice Presidential candidates hasn’t been particularly robust for Trump — many top names in the Republican Party want no part of this mess — Indiana Gov. Mike Pence may need Trump more than Trump needs him. From the Washington Post:

Pence risks looking desperate as he all but pleads for the job. During their joint appearance outside Indianapolis, it felt at times like the governor wants to be rescued from having to stand for reelection this November…

…A major reason Pence wants to be Trump’s running-mate so badly is that he could lose his bid for a second term.

— All along, the Democratic theory of the case to beat Pence this fall has been to define him as “distracted.” He ran promising to focus on jobs and education, but his tenure has been overshadowed and defined by culture war clashes, from a botched religious freedom bill (which he had to “fix” under pressure) to new restrictions on abortion.

If you aren’t catching the whiff of desperation from Pence, consider this comment from Pence during a Trump rally on Tuesday: “Trump understands the frustrations and the hopes of the American people like no other American leader in my lifetime since Ronald Reagan.”

Just 10 weeks ago, Pence endorsed Sen. Ted Cruz for President.

► Colorado delegates may be at the front of the line in an “anti-Trump” movement during next week’s GOP National Convention. Shaun Boyd has more for CBS4 Denver.

Get even more smarter after the jump…

IN CASE YOU ARE STANDING NEAR A WATER COOLER…

► David Cameron is completing his final day in office as Prime Minister of Britain. Cameron will be succeeded by Theresa May.

► A freelance reporter who has written for the Colorado Statesman believes that Larry Mizel should come clean about whether or not he is the new owner of the newspaper.

► Colorado Senators Michael Bennet (D-Denver) and Cory Gardner (R-Yuma) are calling on the Senate Judiciary Committee to act swiftly in approving the nomination of a new U.S. District Court Judge in Colorado. As Monica Mendoza reports for the Denver Business Journal:

The lawmakers — Democrat Bennet and Republican Gardner — asked the committee to consider the nomination of Denver attorney Regina Rodriguez, who was nominated by President Barack Obama in April to replace Judge Robert Blackburn, who took senior status that same month.

Rodriguez, a partner at law firm Hogan Lovells, was among the top picks for the federal judgeship of both senators’ nominating committees.

The Colorado senators wrote to Judiciary Committee Chairman Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, and Ranking Member Patrick Leahy, D-Vermont, urging them to schedule a hearing and a vote on confirmation as soon as possible.

If the Republican-led Senate is going to confirm Rodriguez to the District Court, they’re going to have to actually, you know, do stuff. We’re not holding our breath.

► The Colorado Elections Study Group will continue to meet throughout 2016 to discuss moving away from a Presidential caucus system and back to a Primary vote.

► The Colorado Independent has a rundown on everything you need to know about the minimum wage issue in Colorado.

► Please do not burn the Arapahoe County Sheriff. Or Arapahoe County.

► What in the hell is wrong with George W. Bush?

OTHER LINKS YOU SHOULD CLICK

► Bustang is thriving as it passes its first birthday in Colorado.

► A new PBS documentary examines the 2015 Jefferson County School Board recall election.

ICYMI

► Bernie Sanders endorsed Hillary Clinton for President on Tuesday in a speech that was mostly about Bernie Sanders.

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