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HIGHLANDS RANCH -- Immigration and the Iraq war dominated a debate among four Republicans hoping to replace retiring U.S. Rep. Tom Tancredo (R-Littleton) tonight.

While the candidates have attended several forums this debate, sponsored by PolitickerCO.com and the Sagebush Forum, was the first in this 6th Congressional District race where the August primary will likely determine who will replace Tancredo in this heavily conservative district.

Front-runners Secretary of State Mike Coffman and businessman Wil Armstrong debated whether a public sector or a private sector was the best background for the next Congressman. State Sen. Ted Harvey was the most aggressive as he delivered pointed rebukes to his opponents in his closing statement. State Sen. Steve Ward separated himself from the group by being the only one for a guest worker program and being critical that the Bush Administration has not adequately defined the victory in Iraq or Afghanistan.

But it was on a question about troops levels where Ward probably showed the biggest difference between himself and his rivals. Ward said he supported reinstating a military draft “if needed,” while Coffman, like the other candidates, said he was "very opposed" to the procedure.

On immigration Coffman and Harvey both promised to follow in Tancredo's footsteps and be a national leader on the issue. Armstrong said he also hoped to be a national leader in the position, but said that immigration may not be his main cause.

Harvey said he has passed more pro-life legislation than anyone on the stage, but that it was not, as one questioner contended, to be the cornerstone of his campaign. He said that he was such a conservative fighter that he would be "Nancy Pelosi's worst nightmare."

Questioners included journalists from the Littleton Independent, Highlands Ranch Herald, and PolitickerCO.com's Jeremy Pelzer. The debate will run several times on PBS and later this week on PolitickerCO.com.