BOULDER – The Republican presidential debates in Boulder Wednesday night touched on Western issues, including oil and gas, immigration, gun control and – of course – marijuana.
Colorado political observers had hoped that with the debates taking place on the University of Colorado campus in Boulder, there would be an opportunity to propel Western issues into the spotlight. But CNBC moderators only brushed on the West, focusing largely on economic issues, as was the intended format for the debate.
Immigration and the tech industry – both forefront issues in Colorado – were tied together. Some tech executives have called for more H-1B visas so they can hire foreign workers.
Real estate developer and television personality Donald Trump – who recently slumped in the polls but remains a frontrunner – said there first needs to be a focus on securing the border and ensuring legal immigration.
“If we need people, they have to come into this country legally,” Trump said during the main debate with the GOP’s 10 leading candidates. “We have a country of borders. We have a country of laws.”
Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida wants to first focus on American jobs.
“Before you hire anyone from abroad ,you should have to advertise that job for 180 days,” Rubio said.
Beyond immigration, climate change has also emerged as a significant Western issue, given the prolific nature of energy development in the West.
While the perception is that the Republican Party has been unwilling to acknowledge climate change, a handful of underdog GOP candidates during the opening debate seemed critical of the party for not embracing science.
“One of the things that troubles me about the Republican Party is too often we question science that everyone accepts,” said former New York Gov. George Pataki.
Ahead of the debate, the American Petroleum Institute released a poll showing that 68 percent of Coloradans are more likely to support a candidate who backs producing oil and natural gas. The poll was conducted by Harris Poll, surveying 604 registered Colorado voters.
The subject of gun control – an issue that has divided rural and urban parts of the West – was framed in terms of gun-free zones.
“I think gun-free zones are a catastrophe, they’re a feeding frenzy for sick people,” Trump answered.
Meanwhile, it wouldn’t be a debate in Colorado without a marijuana question. Colorado voters in 2012 became the first to legalize cannabis. Only one question was asked on the subject, which went to Ohio Gov. John Kasich.
“Sending mixed signals to kids about drugs is a disaster,” Kasich said.
Overall, Colorado Democratic Party Chairman Rick Palacio is not impressed with how the Republican candidates are handling Western issues. He pointed specifically to public lands and climate change.
“We know in Colorado that these are America’s lands,” Palacio said. “These are the places we spend time with our friends and families. We want to know what these candidates are going to do to protect them.”
Pete Maysmith, executive director of Conservation Colorado, was also unimpressed with comments from Republicans.
“Coloradans know that climate change matters, but we heard precious little about it tonight,” he said.
pmarcus@durangoherald.com
