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DENVER (AP) -- Colorado Republican Senate candidate Ken Buck compared homosexuality to alcoholism in a nationally televised debate with Democratic Sen. Michael Bennet.

Buck spent much of a debate on NBC's "Meet The Press" Sunday insisting that he hasn't changed his positions to appeal to moderate voters in a Senate contest that has become one of the nation's most competitive.

Asked by host David Gregory to elaborate on a statement he made in an earlier debate about gays in the military, Buck said he believes sexual orientation is a choice, comparing it to alcoholism.

Bennet said Buck's view is "outside the mainstream."

Most polls show Buck having a modest edge over Bennet, a rookie senator who was appointed to the seat last year and is running for office for the first time.

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