Colorado Republican Senate nominee Ken Buck has made his first public comments since Sunday, when he drew headlines for comparing being gay to alcoholism on Meet The Press. In a meeting with supporters Wednesday, Buck tried to put that comment behind him, and urged his backers to stay focused on the economy. Then he said global warming is a big ol’ hoax.
The Coloradoan reports that after the meeting with supporters in Fort Collins, CO, Buck was heading to a fundraiser featuring Sen. James Inhofe (R-OK).
“Sen. Inhofe was the first person to stand up and say this global warming is the greatest hoax that has been perpetrated,” Buck told The Coloradoan. “The evidence just keeps supporting his view, and more and more people’s view, of what’s going on.”
Ironically, Buck had just finished telling his supporters: “let’s stay focused on economic issues for the next 13 days.” His Meet The Press comments have sparked criticism, and while he has said he wasn’t trying to compare being gay to a disease, he did not withdraw the comment when The Coloradoan asked him if he wished he’d rephrased what he said.
“I would focus on the economy for the full 30 minutes, that’s what I’d do,” he said.
The TPM Poll Average for this race shows Buck leading Bennet 48.0%-44.6%.
The Buck campaign did not immediately respond to TPM’s request for comment.
Eric Lach
Eric Lach is a reporter for TPM. From 2010 to 2011, he was a news writer in charge of the website’s front page. He has previously written for The Daily, NewYorker.com, GlobalPost and other publications. He can be reached at ericl(at)talkingpointsmemo.com
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