First, a programming note:  Due to the approaching deer/elk season that begins Saturday, there will be no news or other regular posts on Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday of next week.  This week’s Rule Five Friday and Saturday Gingermageddon will proceed as usual, and next week’s posts will be replaced with some pre-loaded totty posts for your amusement until we return, hopefully with venison.

Next, once again our thanks to Blackmailers Don’t Shoot and The Other McCain for the Rule Five links!

The latest round of Colorado polls sure are interesting.  RealClearPolitics shows our Senate and Governor’s races as essentially tossups.

On the Senate side, the RCP average has GOP challenger Cory Gardner holding a narrow lead, 44.8 to 43.5, with the latest poll (Fox News) showing Gardner leading 43 to 37.  That poll was before the left-leaning Denver Post somewhat surprisingly endorsed Gardner; it will be interesting to see what happens this week.

On the Governor’s race, the situation is somewhat different; as yr. obdt. predicted some time ago, Governor Hickenlooper is showing a narrow lead, and may well keep his seat.  The RCP average has him leading Bob Beauprez 46 to 43.5, but the lead may be narrowing.  The latest poll, again by Fox News, has the race at a tie, 42 to 42.

It’s interesting to note that neither incumbent is polling anywhere near 50%, and it’s an oft-repeated truism in elections that undecideds tend to break towards the challenger.  Being well under 50% in the polls three weeks before the election is a very, very uncomfortable place for an incumbent to be.

But, as is (also) often said, the only poll that counts is the one on election day.  And both of Colorado’s key races will be fought down to the wire.