GOP Senate candidates debate at UCCS, react to Trump’s alleged racist comments

The Republicans vying for the chance to take on Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet this fall met for a debate at the University of Colorado Colorado Springs on Wednesday night.

The candidates touched on a number of topics and Donald Trump was not left out of the discussion.

Each of the Republican candidates told KRDO that Donald Trump crossed a line when talking about the ethnicity of the judge overseeing the Trump University case. But that doesn’t mean they won’t support their party’s presumptive nominee for President.

The candidates all seeking to challenge incumbent Democrat Michael Bennet agree Trump’s recent comments about Judge Gonzalo Curiel were racist, but most agreed they would support Trump if his name is on the party ticket.

“As a person who’s experienced racism all his life, sometimes people make poor choices when they make a statement. You have to then go back and look at the character of the individual,” said El Paso County Commissioner Darryl Glenn.

Former State Representative Jon Keyser expressed disappointment in Trump’s rhetoric, but he argues Trump is still better than the alternative.

“I have a 3-year-old daughter at home, and we’re practicing our ABCs. When I talk about our ABCs here, it’s anybody but Clinton,” said Keyser.

One candidate on that stage said he not only thinks Trump’s remarks were racist, but he also can’t support his party’s presumptive nominee.Trump will has to work hard to earn it back.

“That’s out of bounds. It’s unacceptable. The leadership in America can’t cross that line. I want different and I want better. He must own what he said. That’s not a big ask because it was such a big breach,” said Jack Graham, U.S. Senate candidate.

The VA was another topic on the agenda. All of the candidates said they support privatizing the VA and are calling for reform of the system.

Primary ballots are in the mail and Election Day is June 28.