DENVER – Donald Trump came to Colorado on Tuesday, but he departed the state without indulging Republican U.S. Senate candidate Darryl Glenn in a meeting to “share his heart.”
Glenn says he still will vote for the Republican presidential candidate.
“While Darryl is not endorsing Donald Trump, he will vote for him because there is too much at stake in this election,” said Glenn spokeswoman Katey Price. “As a nation, we cannot afford four more years of the failed policies of Barack Obama, which is exactly what Hillary Clinton is promising.”
Glenn’s position on Trump evolved in a roller-coaster of emotions after Trump was exposed earlier this month for 2005 remarks, in which he made crude comments about a married woman he tried to seduce. Trump also bragged about women letting him kiss and grab them because he is a celebrity.
The weekend following the reported remarks, Glenn seemed steadfast, saying he would no longer vote for Trump, while 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, according to the campaign.
But his perspective quickly changed, and he appeared to express support for Trump on Fox News.
The El Paso County commissioner later clarified that he wanted to meet with Trump to give him a chance to atone, with Glenn claiming that he was motivated by his strong Christian faith, which teaches forgiveness.
In a statement on Oct. 11, Glenn said he planned to meet with Trump “to give him the opportunity to share his heart and win back my vote.”
In a televised U.S. Senate debate with Democratic incumbent Michael Bennet the following day, Glenn clarified that he was only suspending his endorsement of Trump, while he considered giving him another chance.
But there was no meeting with Trump during or between the presidential candidate’s two stops in Colorado on Tuesday, including one in Colorado Springs – where Glenn resides – and another in Grand Junction. Trump made no mention of Glenn during his visit to the Centennial State.
“Darryl Glenn didn’t need a meeting with Donald Trump to judge Trump’s character the first time he endorsed him, so it’s no surprise – after flip-flopping back and forth – that he’s come back around after Trump’s heinous remarks,” said Chris Meagher, spokesman for the Colorado Democratic Party.
Democrats had some fun with Glenn’s evolving position. On Tuesday, the state party sent him a gift, a pair of flip-flops, complete with Trump’s face plastered over the footwear.
“What’s surprising is how easily Glenn – who has tried and failed to show himself to be a leader – has kowtowed to political expediency rather than showing actual leadership and standing on principle,” Meagher said.
Andrew Zucker, a Bennet spokesman, added, “In an ironic twist, Darryl Glenn’s half-dozen positions on Donald Trump over the course of the last two weeks might be the first signs of life his campaign has shown since the start of the general election. Unfortunately for Darryl Glenn, his waffling combined with his stated refusal to work across the aisle also illustrate that he’s out of touch with Colorado.”
pmarcus@durangoherald.com
