Audience watches gubernatorial candidates square off

The two candidates going head-to-head in Colorado’s race for governor squared off in Denver on Tuesday.

The Denver Post hosted the debate between Democratic Governor John Hickenlooper and republican challenger former U.S. Rep. Bob Beauprez.

The questions the two candidates faced focused on key issues for this race.

Beauprez said the state’s economic growth has gone down during Hickenlooper’s term. However, Hickenlooper fired back with statistics validating his message that Colorado’s economy is thriving.

Hickenlooper questioned Beauprez about his stance on the women’s right to choose. He asked Beauprez if he would support using public money to go to efforts to curb teen pregnancy, including forms of birth control.

Beauprez questioned Hickenlooper’s stance on the death penalty. He asked if Hickenlooper would consider granting a reprieve for James Holmes. The man accused of being the shooter in a killing spree at an Aurora Movie Theatre in 2012.

Beauprez criticized Hickenlooper’s decision to grant Nathan Dunlap an indefinite reprive. Dunlap shot five people and killed four at a Chuck E Cheese in Aurora in 1993. Hickenlooper said he stands by his decision because he said it’s not the governorment’s job to put people to death.

Hickenlooper critized Beauprez’ leadership style by saying that the former congressman was quick to attack.

“I think it was 11 seconds before the congressman began attacking me which is what we usually see in Washington, not quite what we see here and I am not sure that is leadership,” said Hickenlooper.

Beauprez said Hickenlooper’s leadership style is too focused on pleasing the democratic party, and he doesn’t make tough decisions.

“Leadership has requirements and among those is willingness to make the tough decisions and John (Hickenlooper) talks a lot about his desire to collaborate. I think that is a euphemism for kicking the can down the road,” said Beauprez.

Hickenlooper was asked by a moderator from the Denver Post about his opinion on negative ads running by his support groups, despite Hickenlooper’s stance to not run negative ads. Hickenlooper said there should be no negative ads and then asked Beauprez to agree to stop running negative ads for the remainder of the race. The two men shook hands on it.

Debate attendees were split over who was the debate’s winner.

“Easily Bob Beauprez. I don’t just say that as a supporter. John Hickenlooper doesn’t seem to know what he really thinks about any position,” said attendee Kenneth Wilkison.

“I thought it was fairly even. But I thought Hickenlooper’s answers were more thoughtful, more well considered, I think Beauprez tends to make decisions quickly and move on,” said attendee Dian Callaghan.

On Thursday, the Pueblo Chieftain will host a debate for the two candidates for at Memorial Hall in Pueblo at 7 p.m.