Seven Republicans hoping to take on U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet in November shared a crowded stage Thursday night at the University of Denver in the first candidate debate in the race.

Darryl Glenn, an El Paso County Commissioner, laid the groundwork for the forum by speculating that everyone on the stage was going to be very close on the policy issues.

“If anyone up here supports common core they need to get off the stage right now,” Glenn said to laughs.

He was feeding off of the opening statement from the other El Paso County Commissioner in the race, Peggy Littleton, who said she “fought against Common Core before fighting against Common Core was popular.”

Instead of focusing on policy, the candidates tried to differentiate themselves through dry humor or wit, backgrounds in the military or business, and their political careers or the lack thereof.

Littleton emphasized that she is the only one who has held an office that was elected by voters in an entire Congressional district, emphasizing her years on the State Board of Education. She also slipped in that she owns guns … three of them.

Not to be outdone, Charlie Ehler, the self-proclaimed rogue scholar who wore a cowboy hat, tie and jacket and jeans to the debate, said he owns 43 guns.

“That’s no big deal,” Ehler said. “I know folks who own thousands.”

Ehler emphasized however that he doesn’t hold the Second Amendment above any of the other Constitutional rights.

Glenn said he’s the only candidate who will be ready to go on day one when it comes to issues of national security. Later, when the lights went off in the small auditorium, he joked that people could probably see his black-and-white wing-tip shoes.

Ryan Frazier, former Aurora City Council member, talked about being raised by a single mother who worked multiple jobs to provide for her children, and said he could relate to people from all socioeconomic backgrounds.

“She taught us that in America if you’re willing to work for it there’s an opportunity for you to make a life for yourself,” Frazier said. “That’s the America that is the beacon of light for the rest of the world.”

Frazier, a strong public speaker, came across as having the most polished agenda.

But right behind him was Jon Keyser, a former state representative who stepped down from his seat this year to run for office. Keyser said the national security issues facing America are personal, recounting the capture and kill missions he went on in Afghanistan and Iraq after graduating from the Air Force Academy.

“Iranian-backed insurgents killed my friends when we were in Iraq and Afghanistan,” he said. “It’s very personal for me . The threats that we face are huge and I’m the only person that’s standing on this stage that’s gone to war that’s looked these problems in the eye.”

Robert Blaha, the Colorado Springs businessman who jumped in the race after Bennet supported the Iran nuclear treaty, was able to distinguish himself as a political outsider. A self-made business owner and banker, Blaha talked about his grown children and a guarantee that he will leave office if he is ineffective.

“The permanent political class, those who are in control who want to stay in control, we elected them. We send them to Washington and what have they done,” Blaha said. “They put our country in this situation and I say we need to hold them all accountable. There’s a different wind blowing . people want a different cut of individual. Someone who knows what it’s like to make a payroll to make executive decisions.”

State Sen. Tim Neville kept his responses short and sweet, standing on the work he has done in the General Assembly.

“I don’t put my faith in government, in big government particularly,” Neville said. “I have the record. I’ve been doing that at the State Senate. I have run legislation that would defend second amendment rights, be pro-life, be limited government and reduce regulation in Colorado.”

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Darrel Glenn is one of two El Paso County Commissioners (along with Peggy Littleton) vying for a chance to unseat democrat Michael Bennet in the U.S. Senate.