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Businessman Joe O’Dea, the Republican Social gathering’s nominee within the Colorado Senate race, mentioned Wednesday he’s “not going to be owned by any social gathering” as he responded to criticism from former President Donald Trump, who referred to as him a RINO (“Republican In Title Solely”).
“I respect the president’s opinion. He’s entitled to that, however I am like most Individuals, we wish to transfer the nation ahead,” O’Dea informed Meet the Press Now, “I’m not going to be owned by any social gathering. I’m going to vote for Colorado first.”
Trump’s feedback got here a day after O’Dea mentioned he would actively marketing campaign in opposition to him in 2024. O’Dea has not solely distanced himself from Trump but additionally from a outstanding Republican proposal on abortion — South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham’s 15 week federal ban.
O’Dea says he backs codifying abortion entry via the primary 5 months of being pregnant, in addition to permitting exceptions for rape, incest and lifetime of the mom. However requested about his resolution to signal a petition to get a measure geared toward limiting abortion entry at 22 weeks onto the state’s 2020 poll (that measure did not embrace a few of these exceptions O’Dea says he now helps), he informed Meet the Press NOW mentioned he is agency in his place.
“I’ve all the time been against late time period abortion,” O’Dea mentioned, “for the primary 5 months that call belongs between a lady and her physician.”
So far as his personal race goes, O’Dea is working in opposition to Democratic Sen. Michael Bennet. A latest ballot from Marist discovered Bennet up by 7%, 48% to 41%, amongst registered voters.
O’Dea additionally dodged when requested about whether or not Trump ought to testify in entrance of the Home committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021 assault on the Capitol. However he lamented what occurred that day and repeated his opposition to seeing Trump on the poll subsequent 12 months.
“Look, President Trump’s going to do what President Trump needs to do. And that’s his resolution, not mine,” O’Dea mentioned, “I consider that was a blackout. I don’t assume it was an excellent day for America. It’s time to maneuver us ahead. And that’s why I don’t need Biden or Trump to run once more. Let’s transfer this nation ahead.”
