Often political candidates do their best to portray an air of graciousness about their standings in the polls (even as they attempt to rip their opponents reputations to shreds in campaign ads). Tom Tancredo doesn't even try to fake it. We interviewed the former Republican congressman in the back of a ballroom at the Sheraton Hotel in downtown Denver, following a forum with his opponents in the race for Colorado governor. Tancredo is now a member of the American Constitution Party, having defected from the GOP to enter the gubernatorial race. Upon his entry the in late July, many analysts joked his chances were close to nil. But that was then. A recent Rasmussen Reports Poll, has Tancredo trailing Denver Mayor, Democrat John Hickenlooper by 4 points, a statistical tie. The Republican nominee, Dan Maes, received a nod from only 12% of those polled. It's talk of polls like this one, that, during our interview, prompted Tancredo to put his hands to his mouth like a megaphone and emphatically say, "You're not going to win, hello! Hello?! You're not going to make it, you know? So what's the purpose? Uh, if you stay in, what is the purpose? What are you trying to accomplish?" The "you" Tancredo is referencing is Maes, who's time as the Republican nominee has been rough, to put it mildly. (read more)

A large percentage of The Rocky Mountain State has already voted, but will have to wait until this evening for the results. According to Colorado's Secretary of State's office, nearly 60-percent of registered voters will do so by mail-in ballot, and record 'turnout' is expected.  Ballots went out July 19th and what they have to say about where Colorado's notoriously independent electorate stands, will start to trickle in at 7:00 pm MT/9:00 pm ET.

At stake for the Obama Administration: A U.S. Senate seat held by an incumbent having trouble inspiring his own party faithful to rally around him, instead of the fellow Democratic insurgent. 

Senator Michael Bennet is in a statistical tie, according to the latest Denver Post poll, with former Colorado State Senate Speaker, Andrew Romanoff, who is leading by three percentage points, which is within the margin of error.

It's a feat Romanoff has managed, even though for much of the primary race, he trailed in both polls and money.  Romanoff's been credited by political watchers for having a stronger ground game in this race and a much stronger connection with caucus goers and delegates to the state nominating assembly earlier this year.  Romanoff cleaned house on both caucus night and at the assembly, but was struggling with the larger Democratic base, until recently, when he launched a series of negative campaigns against his opponent.  (read more)

Just days before a heated primary election, Colorado Senator Michael Bennet finds himself on the defensive. An article in the New York Times reports incumbent Bennet recommended a bad financial deal to Denver Public Schools back when he was superintendent of the urban school district.

The timing couldn't be worse. The piece comes just five days before Colorado's primary on Tuesday, August 10 in which Bennet is no shoe-in for the Democratic ticket. His opponent, Andrew Romanoff, former Colorado Senate Majority Leader, through a slew of negative ads, grassroots support and headline grabbing moves, one of which included the selling of his house to loan his campaign some cash, has pulled himself into a statistical tie with Bennet, according to the latest poll.

According to the article in today's New York Times, in 2008, Superintendent Bennet was one of two people to recommend to the cash strapped Denver Board of Education that the school system should take the risky financial move of attempting to "...raise $750 million in an exotic transaction," lead by JPMorgan Chase according to the Times, in which, "...the debt carried a lower rate but it could also fluctuate if economic conditions changed." (read more)