VOL. 01 NO. 132 | JULY 18, 2016 | COLORADOSTATESMAN.COM/THE-HOT-SHEET | © 2016By TCS CEO and Editor-In-Chief Jared Wright

DENVER – Good morning and Happy Nelson Mandela International Day. I can hear the Flat Earthers screaming now … “this is the USA, who cares what day the United Nations designated for July 18!” … Ok, your thoughts have been noted.

The first day of the Republican National Convention is Day # 200 on the 2016 calendar, only 165 left to go in the year … more importantly only 113 days to go until Decision 2016, Election Day – where, barring the efforts of the Never Trump delegates at the convention and something totally unforeseen at the Democratic National Convention, you will select your choice between the Trump/Pence ticket and the Clinton/Castro or Hickenlooper or Warren ticket (or maybe Kaine, Perez or Vilsack)

Read on for your daily immersion in Colorado politics …

“When a man is denied the right to live the life he believes in, he has no choice but to become an outlaw.” – Nelson Mandela

Now, your substrata feed straight from Colorado’s politics pipeline:

BREAKING: TRUMP TO SPEAK ON FIRST DAY OF CONVENTION – In a somewhat unusual move, Donald Trump has confirmed plans to speak on the first day of convention, appearing on stage to introduce his wife, Melania, days before he is officially due to address delegates gathered there. “Mr. Trump will be accompanying his wife …They’ll be flying in together,” campaign manager Paul Manafort said. “He will introduce her tonight, and she will speak. They will then, after her comments …go back to New York.”

Meanwhile, no one from the Bush family nor Gov. John Kasich will not be in attendance at the convention, according to the report.

Full story here

WITH JUST A WEEK REMAINING BEFORE CONVENTION FOR HILLARY TO CHOOSE HER RUNNING MATE … YES, HICKENLOOPER COULD BE HER PICK FOR VP; AT THE VERY LEAST A CABINET LEVEL POSITION IS LIKELY – As first reported in The Colorado Statesman, Gov. John Hickenlooper visited with Hillary Clinton at her Washington D.C. home Friday, in a meeting that the governor told sources went “really well.” It must have – the meeting, according to some reports, lasted over two and a half hours, beginning at 4:00 p.m. and ending after 6:30 p.m. EDT, though that is later disputed by a comment from the governor himself, who indicated the meeting lasted over an hour – still a good, solid meeting with the Democratic presumptive nominee for president.

Hickenlooper and Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren were seen in separate cars departing the former secretary of state’s home on Friday afternoon. Sources said Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julián Castro, a name long rumored to be on Clinton’s short list, was also interviewed at her home Friday.

In comparison, Clinton reportedly only met with Warren for approximately 1 hour. Hickenlooper’s meeting sounds longer. Way to go, Gov. Hickenlooper (hey, rooting for the home team here).

According to the Washington Post though, Clinton left her home by 5:40 p.m. Whether this is a time zone issue or a dispute in the amount of time that may have been spent between Clinton and the former Colorado mayor and beer pub owner, chatting over presumed paté and fine hand selected wine from the French countryside, is uncertain

It should be noted Clinton also met with Hickenlooper while she was in Denver in June, so this was a second meeting.

The likelihood builds after Hickenlooper’s significant PR push and two-time win in swing state Colorado – one of them in a Republican sweep year – that he would be picked at the very least for a cabinet position in a Hillary Clinton White House. As a result, certainly Lt. Gov. Donna Lynne is readying herself for the move across the hall into the bigger executive office on the state Capitol’s first floor.

Hickenlooper traveled on to Des Moines, Iowa, for a National Governors Association meeting Saturday, but gave little public comment to the Des Moines Register on his meeting with Clinton the day prior.

“I can’t comment on any of that stuff,” he said when asked about the substance of that meeting. “We met for a little over an hour. Beyond that I really think you should talk to the campaign.”

Hickenlooper will be attending the Democratic National Convention next week. Whether he will be strolling onto stage pumping arms to the sky, hands clasped with Hillary (certainly those are images filling his dreams the last few nights) is yet to be seen.

Meanwhile, The POLITICO Caucus has urged Clinton to select Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine.

The Washington Post wins the headline writing award: ‘Clinton has several VP options: Fiery liberals, Hispanics and white guys’ Story here

Related Stories (count ’em up as a win for Hick’s PR department):

Hickenlooper among VP choices interviewed by Clinton in DC

Clinton, Hickenlooper meet as she reviews possible runningmates

Hillary Clinton meets with Colorado Gov. Hickenlooper in vice president search

Clinton meets with Warren, Castro, Hickenlooper as part of VP search

Hickenlooper, Sen. Warren meet with Clinton

Hick for veep after all?

GLENN SPEAKS AT CONVENTION TODAY, COLORADO DEMS TO HOLD PRESS CALL IN ADVANCE – Before Republican U.S. Senate candidate Darryl Glenn takes to the GOP convention stage at the Cleveland Quicken Loans Arena today during the prime-time program … along with 24 other speakers including Duck Dynasty’s Willie Robertson, former Texas Gov. Rick Perry, U.S. Rep. Sean Duffy, Rudy Giuliani and others, the Colorado Democratic Party is aiming to recast some of that limelight. In advance of the speech, Colorado Democratic Party Chair Rick Palacio will “hold a press call to discuss why Darryl Glenn is wrong for Colorado,” according to a news release. The call will take place at 9:30 a.m.

CONVENTION REPORT: COLORADO PUSHED TO THE BACK (are we surprised?) – The 2016 Republican National Convention delegate seating chart was released yesterday. Colorado delegates are at the back … right next to the District of Columbia. Only Texas – Sen. Ted Cruz‘s home state – is behind Colorado Republicans. Ouch!

Interactive seating chart here

Jefferson County Commissioner Libby Szabo will be making the long walk up to the stage to speak at 12:30 p.m. Colorado time today. “It’s an honor to be asked to address convention-goers!” Szabo said on Facebook. “My goal is to make you all proud!”

COOLEST SHIRTS YET! SAY SOME COLORADO DELEGATES – According to The Denver Post’s, er … Wayne Williams‘s Lynn Bartels, U.S. Sen. Cory Gardner was “presented with an honorary delegate shirt. Word from Colorado Republicans is these are the coolest shirts yet.” Gardner received a standing ovation this morning at the Colorado delegation breakfast, being called the “native son.” Isn’t that a CCR song?

“I’m inside the arena on #RNC eve. Colorado sitting in WAY back. Retaliation for its vocal anti-Trump delegates?” – Jacob Soboroff

YOUR BRIEFING IN ALL THINGS POLITICAL

“FULL FRONTAL” HOST SAMANTHA BEE TO FEATURE GOP CONVENTION IN SPECIAL EPISODE – “It seems everyone has gone to the Republican National Convention. But Samantha Bee already went to Cleveland and came back home – and lived to tell her audience about it.” Full story here

COLORADO OIL AND GAS RIG COUNT REACHES 20 AGAIN – “Colorado’s oil and gas rig count rebounded to 20 this week, a significant improvement from the 16 operating a month ago and one more than the 19 operating last week, according to an update Friday from Baker Hughes.” Full story here

WESTERN ISSUES PART OF GOP PLATFORM – “Reversing court rulings allowing for same-sex marriage, passing laws controlling what bathrooms transgenders can use, requiring the Bible to be read as part of American history courses.” Full story here

‘BACHELOR’ BEN HIGGINS RUNNING FOR COLORADO STATE HOUSE – Ben Higgins of “The Bachelor” fame is running for the State House in Colorado. Higgins is a Republican and he will take on incumbent Democrat Dan Pabon in District 4. Full story here

COLORADO REPUBLICAN LEADER LOOKS TO FILL VOID LEFT BY TRUMP – “The Republican Party arrives Monday at the national convention to chart a new direction in the era of Donald Trump. But it remains to be seen whether the party can unite under the candidate with a message that galvanizes voters.” Full story here

COLORADO RANKS NO. 3 IN CNBC’s ANNUAL RATINGS OF BEST STATES TO DO BUSINESS – “CNBC has rated Colorado No. 3 among top states for doing business, trailing only No. 1 Utah and Texas in its annual rankings of all 50 states. The survey examines 60 measures of competitiveness, developed with input “from a broad and diverse array of business and policy experts, official government sources, the CNBC Global CFO Council and the states themselves,” across 10 broad categories: Workforce, cost of doing business, infrastructure, economy, quality of life, technology & innovation, education, business friendliness, cost of living and access to capital.” Full story here

LEGISLATIVE STUDY GROUP PLANS ORE MEETINGS ON PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY – “The Colorado Elections Study Group plans to continue the conversation of a presidential primary in 2020 during three more public meetings this summer.” Full story here

Events:

Advanced Tactical AR-15 Course & Fundraiser for George Athanasopolous for Congress – Friday, July 29, 9:00a.m. – 5:00p.m. Delta Force veterans will headline an advanced tactical AR-15 course to help raise funds for George for Congress. Location: Great Guns Range, 16126 County Road 96, Nunn, CO. Tickets are $700 and include personalized instruction from Special Ops on how to drive your AR-15 like a special forces operator. Ammunition and lunch are also included. Questions? Email George@GeorgeforColorado.com or RSVP at GeorgeforColorado.com/delta.

100 Kids that Cook – Saturday, July 30, 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m., New Hope Baptist Church, 3701 Colorado Blvd., Denver, Come out and support these young people show off their culinary skills. tell your family and friends to come out and support this event. The funds are raised to help watch care academy. Tickets here.El Paso County GOP Lincoln Day Dinner – Fri., August 12, 6:00 – 9:00p.m. Join the El Paso County GOP to celebrate President Abraham Lincoln. Guests include U.S. Sen. Cory Gardner and GOP U.S. Senate candidate Darryl Glenn. Location: Cheyenne Mountain Resort, 3225 Broadmoor Valley Rd, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80906. For more information, contact Mary Bradfield at secretary@gopelpaso.com or (719) 578-0022. For tickets, visit here.

Want your event listed? Just let us know.

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