Buck gained 4 points from the Fox News battleground state poll taken two weeks ago and now leads Bennet 50 percent to 46 percent among likely voters. For a Senate challenger to be leading so late and be above 50 percent is a serious sign that Bennet may be headed for defeat… President Obama's agenda continues to be unpopular in Colorado. His job approval in the state is steady at 40 percent and a consistent 48 percent believe his policies have hurt Colorado’s economy… The percentage of voters, though, who believe that Bennet is too closely allied with Obama remained steady at 51 percent. Much of Buck’s strength comes from his 8-point advantage among independent voters.

And a new McClatchy-Marist survey shows Ken Buck leading appointed Senator Michael Bennet 49-45 percent.  CQ Politics reports:

A new McClatchy-Marist Poll in Colorado shows Ken Buck (R) leading Sen. Michael Bennet (D) in the U.S. Senate race, 49% to 45%. Key findings: Bennet is ahead by nearly 2 to 1 in Denver, but trails in the rest of the state. Of those who think the worst economic news is yet to come, 69% back Buck. Of those who think the worst is behind them, 68% back Bennet.

Democrat firm Public Policy Polling also shows Buck leading Bennet:

The Senate race in Colorado continues to look like it will be one of the closest in the country on Tuesday night. PPP's final poll there finds Ken Buck ahead of Michael Bennet by the slimmest of margins, 49-48… Each candidate has his party base pretty much sewn up. Bennet is winning 87% of Democrats and Buck is winning 86% of Republicans. Giving Buck his slim lead is a 50-46 advantage among independents.

And Bennet continues to come under fire for pushing a risky deal with JP Morgan Chase that ultimately cost the school system millions. The Denver Post reports:

Republicans are taking ethics shots at Sen. Michael Bennet late in the close race for U.S. Senate, saying Bennet had a conflict of interest while Denver schools chief by holding JP Morgan Chase stock while backing a complex pension deal that saw DPS pay the firm $1 million. Ken Buck's Republican senate campaign says the district and board should have been told about Bennet's stock holdings at the time of the 2008 negotiations for a $750 million refinancing deal aimed at shoring up school pensions. "Michael Bennet needs to tell Coloradans why he pushed through such a risky deal, without disclosing the fact that he had thousands and thousands of dollars invested in JP Morgan," John Swartout, campaign manager for the Republican Buck, said earlier this week…

Buck gained 4 points from the Fox News battleground state poll taken two weeks ago and now leads Bennet 50 percent to 46 percent among likely voters. For a Senate challenger to be leading so late and be above 50 percent is a serious sign that Bennet may be headed for defeat… President Obama's agenda continues to be unpopular in Colorado. His job approval in the state is steady at 40 percent and a consistent 48 percent believe his policies have hurt Colorado’s economy… The percentage of voters, though, who believe that Bennet is too closely allied with Obama remained steady at 51 percent. Much of Buck’s strength comes from his 8-point advantage among independent voters.

And a new McClatchy-Marist survey shows Ken Buck leading appointed Senator Michael Bennet 49-45 percent.  CQ Politics reports:

A new McClatchy-Marist Poll in Colorado shows Ken Buck (R) leading Sen. Michael Bennet (D) in the U.S. Senate race, 49% to 45%. Key findings: Bennet is ahead by nearly 2 to 1 in Denver, but trails in the rest of the state. Of those who think the worst economic news is yet to come, 69% back Buck. Of those who think the worst is behind them, 68% back Bennet.

Democrat firm Public Policy Polling also shows Buck leading Bennet:

The Senate race in Colorado continues to look like it will be one of the closest in the country on Tuesday night. PPP's final poll there finds Ken Buck ahead of Michael Bennet by the slimmest of margins, 49-48… Each candidate has his party base pretty much sewn up. Bennet is winning 87% of Democrats and Buck is winning 86% of Republicans. Giving Buck his slim lead is a 50-46 advantage among independents.

And Bennet continues to come under fire for pushing a risky deal with JP Morgan Chase that ultimately cost the school system millions. The Denver Post reports:

Republicans are taking ethics shots at Sen. Michael Bennet late in the close race for U.S. Senate, saying Bennet had a conflict of interest while Denver schools chief by holding JP Morgan Chase stock while backing a complex pension deal that saw DPS pay the firm $1 million. Ken Buck's Republican senate campaign says the district and board should have been told about Bennet's stock holdings at the time of the 2008 negotiations for a $750 million refinancing deal aimed at shoring up school pensions. "Michael Bennet needs to tell Coloradans why he pushed through such a risky deal, without disclosing the fact that he had thousands and thousands of dollars invested in JP Morgan," John Swartout, campaign manager for the Republican Buck, said earlier this week…

On CNN this week, Jessica Yellin asked Bennet why he campaigned with Obama during his contentious Democrat primary, but ran away from his party’s leader during the general. Bennet explained that the President was unpopular with Independents in his state and that he "should be in places around the country where it will be helpful."

BENNET: "The - personal reaction by the Independent voters that you’ve described based on a lot, uh... the political rhetoric that's gone on back and forth might not make it helpful. I think the president should be in places around the country where it will be helpful. And we are running this race, uh... on the facts on the ground in Colorado, what people are really interested in working on."

Yet just last evening, Bennet invited President Obama to speak to a select group of his supporters during his tele-town hall meeting. Bennet gushed that "It’s so great for the President to join," and President Obama effusively praised Bennet, saying "I need somebody in the Senate" like Bennet who is "ready to roll up his sleeves."

In closing, the President said "I know that a lot of you also worked on my campaign in 2008" on the "spectacular" DNC convention, and he asserted that "this election is about more than just the Colorado Senate seat, it’s about the direction our country takes for years to come."

Well, at least we can agree on that last part. Unfortunately for President Obama and Senator Bennet, voters in Colorado just don’t like the direction that they’re taking America.

On CNN this week, Jessica Yellin asked Bennet why he campaigned with Obama during his contentious Democrat primary, but ran away from his party’s leader during the general. Bennet explained that the President was unpopular with Independents in his state and that he "should be in places around the country where it will be helpful."

BENNET: "The - personal reaction by the Independent voters that you’ve described based on a lot, uh... the political rhetoric that's gone on back and forth might not make it helpful. I think the president should be in places around the country where it will be helpful. And we are running this race, uh... on the facts on the ground in Colorado, what people are really interested in working on."

Yet just last evening, Bennet invited President Obama to speak to a select group of his supporters during his tele-town hall meeting. Bennet gushed that "It’s so great for the President to join," and President Obama effusively praised Bennet, saying "I need somebody in the Senate" like Bennet who is "ready to roll up his sleeves."

In closing, the President said "I know that a lot of you also worked on my campaign in 2008" on the "spectacular" DNC convention, and he asserted that "this election is about more than just the Colorado Senate seat, it’s about the direction our country takes for years to come."

Well, at least we can agree on that last part. Unfortunately for President Obama and Senator Bennet, voters in Colorado just don’t like the direction that they’re taking America.

Republicans in Colorado continue to outpace Democrats in casting votes early so far this election. Republicans have now cast 40,000 more ballots than Democrats, according to numbers released Wednesday by the secretary of state's office.  Republicans are also still turning out at a higher rate. So far, about 26 percent of registered Republicans have voted, compared with about 22 percent of registered Democrats. Unaffiliated voters, the state's largest voting bloc, trail both parties in ballots cast and turnout.

And Mike Rosen writes in the Denver Post that “Bennet's behavior in tap dancing around the so-called Employee Free Choice Act is emblematic of his short Senate tenure.”

The Denver Post's official editorial page "endorsement" of Democrat Michael Bennet for U.S. Senate was half-hearted at best. Replete with criticism of his actual performance since he was appointed to the seat in January 2009, The Post's nod was based on the hope that he might be worthy of the position in the future. As endorsements go, that's pretty left-handed…. Bennet's behavior in tap dancing around the so-called Employee Free Choice Act is emblematic of his short Senate tenure. This bill is the crown jewel in big labor's wish list. More accurately described as the Employee Forced Choice Act, it's a makeover of the old card-check scheme whereby union organizers can sidestep a secret-ballot election by strong-arming workers in face-to-face encounters… That question has been hovering over Bennet's head for almost two years. Perhaps his political epitaph will read, "So much potential, so little spine and leadership."

Republicans in Colorado continue to outpace Democrats in casting votes early so far this election. Republicans have now cast 40,000 more ballots than Democrats, according to numbers released Wednesday by the secretary of state's office.  Republicans are also still turning out at a higher rate. So far, about 26 percent of registered Republicans have voted, compared with about 22 percent of registered Democrats. Unaffiliated voters, the state's largest voting bloc, trail both parties in ballots cast and turnout.

And Mike Rosen writes in the Denver Post that “Bennet's behavior in tap dancing around the so-called Employee Free Choice Act is emblematic of his short Senate tenure.”

The Denver Post's official editorial page "endorsement" of Democrat Michael Bennet for U.S. Senate was half-hearted at best. Replete with criticism of his actual performance since he was appointed to the seat in January 2009, The Post's nod was based on the hope that he might be worthy of the position in the future. As endorsements go, that's pretty left-handed…. Bennet's behavior in tap dancing around the so-called Employee Free Choice Act is emblematic of his short Senate tenure. This bill is the crown jewel in big labor's wish list. More accurately described as the Employee Forced Choice Act, it's a makeover of the old card-check scheme whereby union organizers can sidestep a secret-ballot election by strong-arming workers in face-to-face encounters… That question has been hovering over Bennet's head for almost two years. Perhaps his political epitaph will read, "So much potential, so little spine and leadership."

Republican Ken Buck still holds a slight lead over incumbent Democrat Michael Bennet as Colorado’s U.S. Senate race heads down to the wire. The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of Likely Voters in the state finds Buck earning 48% support to Bennet’s 44%.

The Associated Press notes that Republicans are pressing questions regarding Bennet’s investments with JP Morgan while he cut a deal with the same firm for Denver Public Schools – a deal that “has been criticized as a risky scheme that cost Denver's schools extra millions in interest and fees.”

The GOP this week passed to reporters financial disclosure reports showing that Bennet, a former superintendent of Denver Public Schools, owned stock in JP Morgan Chase, a firm involved in a 2008 financing deal to cover a $400 million gap in the school system's pension fund. Bennet presented the proposed deal to the Denver school board, which unanimously backed it in hopes of saving tens of millions of dollars in annual debt costs… It has been criticized as a risky scheme that cost Denver's schools extra millions in interest and fees.

And Bennet attempted to explain to CNN why he has flip-flopped on campaigning with President Obama during the primary and is running away from his party’s leader during the General Election, admitting that President Obama just isn’t that popular with many Colorado voters, particularly Independents.  CLICK HERE to view video of Michael Bennet attempting to explain his politically motivated flip-flop.

Republican Ken Buck still holds a slight lead over incumbent Democrat Michael Bennet as Colorado’s U.S. Senate race heads down to the wire. The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of Likely Voters in the state finds Buck earning 48% support to Bennet’s 44%.

The Associated Press notes that Republicans are pressing questions regarding Bennet’s investments with JP Morgan while he cut a deal with the same firm for Denver Public Schools – a deal that “has been criticized as a risky scheme that cost Denver's schools extra millions in interest and fees.”

The GOP this week passed to reporters financial disclosure reports showing that Bennet, a former superintendent of Denver Public Schools, owned stock in JP Morgan Chase, a firm involved in a 2008 financing deal to cover a $400 million gap in the school system's pension fund. Bennet presented the proposed deal to the Denver school board, which unanimously backed it in hopes of saving tens of millions of dollars in annual debt costs… It has been criticized as a risky scheme that cost Denver's schools extra millions in interest and fees.

And Bennet attempted to explain to CNN why he has flip-flopped on campaigning with President Obama during the primary and is running away from his party’s leader during the General Election, admitting that President Obama just isn’t that popular with many Colorado voters, particularly Independents.  CLICK HERE to view video of Michael Bennet attempting to explain his politically motivated flip-flop.

Is it the senator who voted for every significant expansion of federal spending in his first 18 months in office, including $80 billion in extra stimulus as recently as June? Or is it the born-again deficit hawk who in debates with Republican Ken Buck preaches the need for "tough choices"?... Every time I've heard Bennet hold forth — in three debates and on three occasions with the Post editorial board — his discussion of spending has been maddeningly noncommittal. And while he's sharpened his positions of late, he has offered hardly any ideas that are a cinch to reap major savings… Bennet has all but promised to be part of such brainstorming if he triumphs Tuesday. It's an impressive pledge, coming as it does from Senator Splurge.

Is it the senator who voted for every significant expansion of federal spending in his first 18 months in office, including $80 billion in extra stimulus as recently as June? Or is it the born-again deficit hawk who in debates with Republican Ken Buck preaches the need for "tough choices"?... Every time I've heard Bennet hold forth — in three debates and on three occasions with the Post editorial board — his discussion of spending has been maddeningly noncommittal. And while he's sharpened his positions of late, he has offered hardly any ideas that are a cinch to reap major savings… Bennet has all but promised to be part of such brainstorming if he triumphs Tuesday. It's an impressive pledge, coming as it does from Senator Splurge.