5 Colorado Republicans fight to take on Democrat Bennet

In a year in which the Senate map favors Democrats and the GOP is defending Senate seats in Democratic states such as Illinois, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, the West seemed to offer Republicans a lifeline.

In Colorado, the GOP holds a 4-3 edge in congressional seats and unaffiliated voters are the largest voting bloc.

Mike Coffman and Scott Tipton declined to enter the Senate race, and a field of 13 whittled down to five, most of whom adopted sharply conservative stands in a state that rewards moderates.

— Former state Rep. Jon Keyser, an early national GOP favorite who stumbled by refusing to answer questions about forged voter signatures his campaign submitted to qualify for the primary.

— Robert Blaha, a blunt-spoken Colorado Springs businessman whose ventures include streamlining major company cultures, corporate leadership and banking and investment firms.

— Jack Graham, a Democrat until 2014 and a former insurance executive and Colorado State University athletic director who supports gay marriage and abortion rights.

All agree the federal health care overhaul must be replaced; the Iran deal undone; the war on ISIS, especially after the Orlando shootings, be fought as such — a war; vetting of immigrants increased; corporate tax rates cut; and an end to Democrats' "war on coal."

Call, the former state party chair, worries that while a tea party conservative like Glenn may win the primary, "it's a dead-end path to win the general election."