By TCS Publisher and Editor in Chief Jared Wright _@JaredWright_

Tuesday, March 1, 2016

DENVER – The big day has arrived — SUPER TUESDAY. Good luck and stay safe as you make your way out to your caucus locations tonight.

“I have learned the difference between a cactus and a caucus. On a cactus, the pricks are on the outside.” — Mo Udall

Now, your substrata feed straight from the politics pipeline:

THE CAUCUS BREAKDOWN

Colorado caucusing — Right here in our little mountain state, somewhere around 100,000 Democrats will turn out to 3,010 precinct caucus locations while in the ballpark of 20,000 to 60,000 Republicans will gather in 2,995 precinct locations.

Colorado Legislature — Legislators today will hold morning business and third reading votes on the House and Senate floors and are expected to drop gavels early to travel to their respective nether regions of the state to attend their partisan gatherings.

Colorado Republicans — In case you have been living under a rock, the state GOP has chosen not to hold a presidential straw poll this election year — the one in 2012 turned out to be essentially meaningless (in terms of who the eventual nominee turned out to be) when the state’s caucus attendees cast their support for Rick Santorum. Additionally, (depending on your interpretation of new Republican National Committee rules) delegates would have been bound to their respective presidential pick. With no straw poll, delegates will remain unbound and able to switch their vote for the candidate of their choice at the very last moment at national convention. This has resulted, some argue, in far less attention paid towards Colorado from the Republican candidates for president this early in the game.

Don’t despair … we will still get a glimpse into the hearts and minds of Colorado Republicans and who they fancy for POTUS. From our sources, several GOP County organizations are going to be conducting informal, non-binding presidential polls tonight. We will keep you posted on those results as they become available.

Colorado Democrats — Tonight, the state Democratic Party will hold preference polls at caucus meetings to determine whether Colorado Democrats want Hillary Clinton or Bernie Sanders as their next president.

The Players … Colorado Delegates — Colorado Democrats have 78 total delegates up for grabs for president. Twelve of those are Superdelegates —

State party chair Rick Palacio, first vice-chairwoman Beverly Ryken; Democratic National Committee members Anthony Graves, Lisa Padilla,Mannie Rodriquez and Blanca O’Leary; former Colorado Gov. Roy Romer, Gov. John Hickenlooper, U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet and U.S. Reps. Diana DeGette, Ed Perlmutter and Jared Polis.

Romer, Hickenlooper, Bennet, DeGette, Perlmutter and Polis have all endorsed Clinton.

Colorado Republicans have 37 delegates on the line for president. Three of those are Superdelegates —

State party chair Steve House, RNC national committeeman George Leing and RNC national committeewoman Lily Nunez.

Notice a difference of management style here? Top-down vs. bottom-up. More hands on the controls = less chance of a crash.

Caucus time — Be at your location by 6:30 MST as the best bet

The rest of the nation — Tonight, the following will be held across the nation for Super Tuesday:  Alabama Democratic and Republican primaries, Alaska Republican caucus, American Samoa Democratic caucus, Arkansas Democratic and Republican primaries, Colorado Democratic and Republican caucuses, Democrats abroad primary (Mar. 1-8), Georgia Democratic and Republican primaries, Massachusetts Republican and Democratic primaries, Minnesota Democratic and Republican primaries, North Dakota Republican caucus, Oklahoma Democratic and Republican primaries, Tennessee Democratic and Republican primaries, Texas Democratic and Republican primaries, Vermont Democratic and Republican primaries, Virginia Democratic and Republican primaries and the Wyoming Republican caucus.

The Numbers (as they stand now) —

(Source: AP)

Colorado Democratic Prediction — Sanders wins at precinct caucuses tonight, but with Clinton already ahead in Superdelegates, it may not be a substantial victory.

Natividad plans to make it 13 — Jerry Natividad, the founder and CEO of American Facility Services Group, Inc and owner of Jeffco Regional Sports Facility, will enter the crowded Republican field in the race for U.S. Senate against Sen. Michael Bennet today — marking the 13th Republican candidate to enter the race.

Jerry Natividad, via Twitter

A new banner on Jerry Natividad’s Facebook page today

American Facility Services Group is a private company with a main focus on “providing facility support to America’s Fortune 500 companies.”

Natividad has an extensive community and philanthropic resume, having founded the Commisson on Cultural Diversity and Human Relations for the City of Lakewood in 1991 and serving as the first Chairperson of the Colorado Hispanic League the same year.

Additionally, He served as Trustee of the Lakewood Legacy Foundation, was a member of the Leadership Council for Better Education in Jefferson County, served as a member of the advisory board for the Denver Urban Renewal Authority, a former advisory board member for the University of Colorado-School of Business, served as a member of the small business council-Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce, former member of the Advisory Committee-Governor’s Minority Business Office, Member of Governor Owens Transition team, former board member of the Colorado Chamber of Hispanic Contractors, He has been long term member and Board member of the Denver Hispanic Chamber of Commerce-Chairperson of the Legislative and Governmental Affairs Committee, the Business and Economic Committee; member of the Northern Colorado Latino Chamber of Commerce, the Colorado Springs Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, and the Pueblo Latino Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Natividad was appointed to the National Advisory Council for the Small Business Administration by President George W. Bush.

He also is a contributing and founding member of the Latino Community Foundation of Colorado, a philanthropic group of Hispanics founded in partnership the Rose Foundation. (Source: Leadership Institute)

Because AFSG is a private company, Natividad’s net worth is hard to establish, however, he could be spending dollars on a “statewide media campaign,” (unless he’s talking earned media) as announced by Denver Post reporter John Frank, which would add a third to a list of two high rollers already in this race — Colorado Springs businessman Robert Blaha and former CSU Athletic Director Jack Graham.

How Hillary plans to overcome Donald Trump — Bill Clinton senses the very real political challenge ahead for his wife in Donald Trump. And that says a lot coming from someone with as keen a sense as Bill Clinton’s. As a result, “While Mrs. Clinton radiates positive energy on the trail, Democratic groups are beginning to coalesce around a strategy to deliver sustained and brutal attacks on Mr. Trump.” This from a New York Times report by Amy Chozick and Patrick Healy. Read the full report here.

The most recent nationwide polling data — From CNN/ORC International shows Clinton and Sanders both beating a Trump in a hypothetical matchup:

Clinton 52%, Trump 44%Sanders 55%, Trump 43%

Bigger news is perhaps that in this same hypothetical matchup, Marco Rubio would beat Clinton narrowly, 50% to 47% and similar results for Ted Cruz with his placing 49% to Clinton’s 48%, according to the poll.

Sanders beats all of the Republican candidates.

Read the full story on CNN here.

States in play tonight — According to Huffpost Pollster:

Cruz will win home state Texas with 36% to second place Donald Trump at 30%

Clinton will also win Texas with 615 to Sanders’s 33%

Clinton also wins Georgia by a similar margin, 63% to 37%

Trump takes Georgia 37% to Rubio’s 22%

In Massachusetts, Clinton wins 51% to Sanders 42% and Trump wins 50% to Rubio 20%

In Virginia, Clinton wins 56% to Sanders 35% while Trump edges Rubio 39% to 25%

More data here.

Coffman backs the HPF move while Cadman stands strong against moving the fee to an enterprise fund — Yesterday, Senate President Bill Cadman called the issue of moving the Hospital Provider Fee to an enterprise fund not a question of legality but whether its really the right thing to do for Colorado. This in response to Colorado Attorney General Cynthia Coffman’s propping up the proposed policy move’s legality.

Read Statesman Capitol Bureau Chief John Tomasic’s full story here.

Another Republican challenger in CD-7 — Army veteran George Athanasopoulos has thrown his hat in the ring to challenge U.S. Rep. Ed Perlmutter in CD-7, but he first will have to challenge controversial Bruce Baker in a year when controversy seems to be king in the Republican ranks.

Read the full story from The Statesman’s Ernest Luning here.

Ryan denounces Trump — U.S. House Speaker Paul D. Ryan has now denounced Trump over playing his “games” with KKK statements.

“This is the kind of moment where we should be having a serious debate about the policies needed to restore the American idea,” Ryan told reporters on Super Tuesday. “Instead, the conversation over the last few days has been over white supremacy groups.”

Read Ryan’s full remarks in The Hill here.

Sen. Kevin Grantham, Rep. Jim Wilson, running resolution to denounce Obama bi-passing Congress on Gitmo — Grantham stated, “I will be introducing a Senate Joint Resolution this week on the recent announcement of President Obama’s desire to close our military prison in Guantanamo Bay and house the terrorist detainees somewhere in the U.S., possibly right here in Colorado.”

“This issue is settled; the U.S. courts have affirmed that enemy combatants are legally confined to the military prisons outside the continental U.S. Having even more dangerous detainees in our non-military prisons in Colorado poses danger to the community. A number of dangerous terrorists are housed at the Supermax prison in Florence. When dozens of foreign government officials say the remaining Gitmo detainees are too dangerous to house in their prisons, they know what they’re talking about.”

Tipton Communication Director Joshua Green named COS — Joshua Green, who has served as U.S. Rep. Scott Tipton’s District Director and Communications Director since 2011 has taken over as the congressman’s Chief of Staff. Green is taking over for Nick Zupancic who took a job in the private sector, according to new Communications Director Ryan Shucard. Zupancic had served as Tipton’s COS since January 2012.

“It is better to live one day as a lion than 100 years as a sheep” — Donald Trump … and Benito Mussolini

Birthdays: State Rep. J. Paul Brown celebrates his birthday today. Happy Birthday, J. Paul, and congrats on receiving the sheepherder hook on the House floor — a tool that will undoubtedly be put to use.

Events:

Super Tuesday — Alabama, Alaska Caucus (R), American Samoa Caucus (D), Arkansas, Colorado caucuses, Democrats Abroad, Georgia, Massachusetts, Minnesota, North Dakota Caucus (R), Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, Wyoming Caucus (R) — March 1

After-caucus watch parties — Tues., Mar. 1, Hillary Clinton campaign, La Rumba Night Club, 99 W 9th Ave, Denver; Bernie Sanders campaign, Bluebird Theater, 3317 E Colfax Ave, Denver

Mental Health America of Colorado Legislative Education and Advocacy Day — Awarding Reps. Lois Landgraf and Diane Primavera and Sen. John Kefalas their Legislators of the Year awards. Thurs., Mar. 3, 8:00 am – 2:00 pm, Scottish Rite Masonic Center, 1370 Grant St, Denver

Forging in the West, Celebrate Pueblo and the new documentary film — Thurs., Mar. 3, Haveypro Cinema Studio, 1836 Blake St, Ste 203, Denver, 5:00 pm – 6:30 pm, RSVP to 303-296-7448 or alysha@haveypro.com

Denver County GOP Friday Breakfast with Senate Candidates — Darryl Glenn and Tim Neville are confirmed to speak at the breakfast. Ryan Frazier has reportedly cancelled — March 4, 7:00 am, Pete’s Greektown Cafe, 2910 E Colfax Ave

Government in the Grocery with Rep. Alec Garnett — Garnett listens to the concerns of shoppers and constituents by setting up a table in local grocery stores. Sat., Mar. 5, Natural Grocers, 1433 Washington St., Denver, 9:30 am — 11:30 am

Millennial Freedom Forum — Sunday, Mar. 6, Cherry Creek Country Club, 12:00 pm – 6:00 pm, RSVP at millenialfreedomforum.org

Golden View Classical Academy Sentinel Soiree — Sat., Mar. 12, Golden View Classical Academy, 601 Corporate Circle, Golden, 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm, best Colorado cocktail attire, RSVP to Hillary@WestBrookGroup.com

Agriculture Day at the Capitol — Set for Tuesdays, March 16 — get ready for awesome food and great folks to descend upon the Capitol.

Colorado Young Democrats 2016 Legislative Showdown — Wed., Mar. 16, The 1up, 717 E Colfax Ave, Denver, 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm. Please join Sen. Ulibarri, Rep. Garnett, Rep. Melton, Rep. Moreno, and other legislators for one of our signature annual events.

17th Annual Icon Awards Gala — Fri., Mar. 18, Grand Hyatt Denver Downtown, 6:00 pm, Ticket includes appetizers, seated dinner, open bar, fabulous entertainment and dancing! Voted year after year as the best party in Denver! Tickets available at: http://bit.ly/1PN5Jj3

Rosting Mike Rosen — Sat. Mar. 19, Denver Marriot Tech Center, 4900 S Syracuse St, Denver, 5:30 pm – 11:00 pm, www.taps.org/classic

2nd Annual Westminster Chamber Awards Gala — Fri., Apr. 29, Westminster Chamber of Commerce, Denver Marriott Westminster, 6:00 pm – 11:00 pm. Join us for our 2nd Annual Awards Gala on April 29th at the Denver Marriott Westminster. Awards will be given to area business in different categories. Food, Music and a Silent Auction will be part of this years event. There will be a 1 hour preview for VIP members and higher from 5-6pm and doors open to the public at 6pm. Purchase your ticket early and save $5 per ticket.

Want your event listed? Just let me know.

From the wires:

The Durango Herald’s Peter Marcus reports on Gov. John Hickenlooper’s recommendation yesterday for a Superfund listing in the wake of the Gold King Mine spill

Roll Call’s Niall Stanage reports on a panicked GOP bracing for a big Trump win on Super Tuesday.

CNBC reports how Super Tuesday could rock the jittery stock market

CBS Denver reports on the City and County of Denver’s predatory parking ticket practices. I recuse myself from an opinion here having just received one yesterday — 5 minutes over.

The Colorado Springs Gazette’s Megan Schrader reports on the GOP U.S. Senate hopeful’s “debate” at the El Paso County Republican HQ last night.

The Denver Post’s Joey Bunch reports on a water law compromise reached via amendments on the rain barrel bill

The Denver Post’s Aldo Svaldi reports on Xcel Energy’s new renewable power plan skewing towards solar in Colorado

The Gazette’s Maria St. Louis-Sanchez reports on Rubio leading the GOP in the race for Colorado Springs campaign cash

The Longmont Times Call’s John Fryar reports on the attack and defense of GMO crops at a Boulder County hearing

The Denver Post’s John Aguilar reports on development pressures in Castle Rock and how those have prompted a battle over annexations

Politico’s Steven Shepard reports that Insiders are claiming Clinton and Trump will be running riot on Super Tuesday

Politicos Nolan D. McCaskill reports on Donald Trump’s calling Marco Rubio to drop out of the presidential race if he doesn’t do well on Super TuesdayHouse and Senate Calendars:

HOUSE – Your Mar. 1 Calendar here 

SENATE – Your Mar. 1 Calendar here 

You’re up to date. Have a productive Super Tuesday! Until tomorrow …

Tell us what you know! — To submit a tip, event, happening, gossuping, chattering or other interesting tidbit to The Hot Sheet, click here to submit via our contact form … yes, even anonymously if you’re feeling all cloak and dagger.

JW