\u201cI am the human equivalent of a unicorn,\u201d he said. \u201cI am Michael Bennet\u2019s worst nightmare. I will break every stereotype.\u201d<\/p>\n
The current El Paso County commissioner is running against incumbent Democrat Sen. Michael Bennet. Glenn has some ground to make up before Election Day, as most polls show he\u2019s still behind his opponent.<\/p>\n
Glenn said he believed he could turn things around and win the election by about 4 percent.<\/p>\n
About 70 people attended the Montezuma County Republicans Lincoln Day dinner at the Cortez Elks lodge, including state Reps. J. Paul Brown of Ignacio, Bob Rankin of Carbondale and Don Coram of Montrose, and U.S. Rep. Scott Tipton of Cortez. Joyce Rankin, who is campaigning for the state\u2019s third congressional district seat on the state Board of Education, also spoke at the event.<\/p>\n
Friday, Glenn visited the Durango Elks Lodge for a breakfast event.<\/p>\n
A military veteran and conservative Christian, Glenn is running on a platform that\u2019s in line with GOP sentiments across the nation. He said he wants to repeal the Affordable Care Act, secure the country\u2019s borders and protect the Second Amendment. Saturday, he also highlighted education reform, saying that people in underserved communities need access to better education opportunities, such as school vouchers.<\/p>\n
Colorado has a balanced budget and should be a national leader, he said. \u201cWe know how to lead, and that\u2019s what I will do.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Western Slope is an important part of Colorado, and it\u2019s Glenn\u2019s philosophy to get across the entire state and meet people, he said. People are frustrated and think that elected officials only care about the Front Range, he said.<\/p>\n
If elected, though, he promised to have staff representatives who are experts in Southwest Colorado topics, such as water rights and ranching, to keep him in the know about what\u2019s going on in the region.<\/p>\n
\u201cOne thing people need to know is that they\u2019re going to have someone who will represent them and not be beholden to special interests,\u201d Glenn said.<\/p>\n
The issues that Michael Bennet has supported are not in line with Colorado interests, Glenn said. Coloradans are upset about the Affordable Care Act and rising costs of health care, he said. They\u2019re upset with the Iran nuclear deal and Environmental Protection Agency regulations that might threaten jobs throughout the state, he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cPeople are reinforcing that they want someone to stand up for Colorado in D.C.,\u201d Glenn said. \u201cThat\u2019s the universal message.\u201d<\/p>\n
In a passionate speech, Montezuma Republican Chairman Danny Wilkins urged people to give up a little more free time and work a little harder to get Republicans elected in the fall. He said this election would dictate the country\u2019s direction for the next few decades, and it\u2019s imperative that Republicans get elected to provide for future generations.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf anything will drive a nail in the coffin it will be electing Hillary Clinton,\u201d Wilkins said. \u201cWe have to defeat her.\u201d<\/p>\n
Tipton spoke on federal government overreach, a common theme of his tenure in the House. He said the fall election is about jobs, and the Western Slope has lost 1,200 of them because of closing coal mines. He also stressed the need to keep fighting against environmental regulation so that southwest Coloradans can keep water and ranching rights.<\/p>\n
Republicans are putting solutions together to get people back to work, and more need to be elected, Tipton said.<\/p>\n
\u201cCory Gardner needs company in the Senate, and Darryl Glenn is that man,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
On a night when several speakers before him forecast doomsday if Republicans aren\u2019t elected this fall, Glenn provided a hint of hope.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe need to understand we cannot give up,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s a tough fight, but I am optimistic.\u201d<\/p>\n