DENVER – Republican U.S. Senate candidate
Glenn over the weekend said he would no longer vote for Trump, calling for the embattled presidential candidate to step aside. He went as far as to say that he would write in Trump’s running mate, Mike Pence.
But on Tuesday, as Glenn’s thoughts continued to evolve, he said he was only suspending his endorsement of Trump, while he considers giving him another chance.
“I’m a deep man of faith, and I think it’s extremely important that if somebody makes an apology, my faith teaches me grace, mercy and respect. … I want to know what’s in his heart,” Glenn said, during a debate hosted by 9News in Denver.
The debate at the History Colorado Center was the second meeting between Glenn and Democratic incumbent Michael Bennet. It was also likely the only televised debate, after both Glenn and Bennet declined to participate in other debates, for different reasons.
The debate inside the hall was somewhat drowned out by a group of about two-dozen protesters outside the museum, who shouted loudly and banged on doors and windows, protesting the exclusion from the debate of Green Party candidate Arn Menconi.
It was yet another distraction in a chaotic election season, which last week was highlighted by a report that exposed 2005 remarks by Trump, in which he made crude comments about a married woman he tried to seduce. Trump also brags about women letting him kiss and grab them because he is a celebrity.
Glenn attempted to turn the tables and deflect away from the Trump issue, pointing out that Bennet didn’t criticize Democrat Hillary Clinton for her controversial remarks when she called Trump supporters a “basket of deplorables,” essentially framing them as bigots.
“I didn’t have to (apologize) because she said she was wrong. She apologized immediately, and it was a sincere, heartfelt apology,” Bennet responded, during the testy exchange between the two candidates.
Glenn was also asked by debate moderators, Kyle Clark and Brandon Rittiman, whether he supported a proposed ban on Muslim travel into the United States, a Trump plan his campaign has recently softened.
The Durango Herald last week reported comments from Glenn from December 2015, in which the candidate calls the Trump plan “sound,” while also suggesting that profiling of Muslims might be necessary to curb terrorist attacks.
But at the debate Tuesday, Glenn called such bans “overly broad,” adding, “I do not support blanket bans.”
Glenn wasn’t the only of the two candidates to find himself in the hot seat. Bennet was asked about his support of the Affordable Care Act, which led to insurance premium hikes.
“I’m sorry when anybody’s health insurance costs go up,” Bennet responded. “We had huge problems with our health care system before we passed the Affordable Care Act. We have huge problems today.”
pmarcus@durangoherald.com
