The battle over Republican U.S. Senate candidate Jon Keyser’s combat record got more crowded Saturday when primary rival Ryan Frazier joined calls for Darryl Glenn to apologize for questioning how Keyser earned a Bronze Star for his service in Iraq a decade ago.

But Glenn isn’t backing down.

Noting that Glenn had declined the opportunity to apologize to Keyser on Friday night at a debate in Broomfield – and that the Denver Post Editorial Board had called Glenn’s attack “reckless and amateurish” that same night – Frazier said he was siding with Keyser.

“I applaud Jon Keyser’s military service and agree that Darryl Glenn should either put up or apologize immediately,” Frazier said through a spokesman. “The campaign trail gets heated, but this attack was a low blow to a fellow serviceman and irresponsible. As a Navy veteran myself, I appreciate anyone who has served our country honorably.”

“Darryl has chosen to stand on his position at this time,” Glenn campaign spokeswoman Jillian Likness told The Colorado Statesman on Saturday.

Calling Glenn’s remarks about the Bronze Star “blatant lies,” Keyser took the counterattack up a notch Saturday.

“Darryl Glenn stooped to the lowest form of attack when he, at his own admission, disparaged and lied about the Bronze Star I received for my combat service in Iraq,” Keyser told The Statesman through a spokesman. “Darryl’s conduct is despicable and offensive to everyone who has worn the uniform. He has now refused to apologize for his gutless dishonesty. Darryl Glenn is an embarrassment to all Republicans and everyone who supports our military. If he had one ounce of honor or integrity, he would apologize for his blatant lies.”

The three Republicans face businessmen Robert Blaha of Colorado Springs and Jack Graham of Fort Collins in a June 28 primary. Mail ballots went out to voters statewide this week. They’re running for the chance to take on U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet, who is unopposed in the Democratic primary.

The Bronze Star – and Keyser’s service as an intelligence officer – is central to Keyser’s campaign, which he has said was sparked by Bennet’s support for the nuclear deal with Iran. That position is the focus of a Keyser television ad, which includes images of the medal.

The fracas over Keyser’s military decoration has intensified in recent days since Glenn, a retired Air Force lieutenant colonel, asked Keyser, a major in the Air Force Reserve, whether he’d won the medal for writing “a software program” or whether he “personally kicked in doors,” during a debate in Colorado Springs on Wednesday.

A stunned Keyser responded that he hadn’t been going after “computer programmers, or whatever you’re talking about.” When pressed by Glenn, he added, “What I did was go out with a very small special operations team, and we’d find the world’s most dangerous terrorists, often at night, and apprehend them or kill them.”

The next day, Keyser asked the prominent Senate Conservatives Fund to revoke its endorsement of Glenn, but the campaign organization’s president, former Virginia Attorney General, refused.

“We’re proud to join grassroots conservatives across Colorado in supporting Darryl Glenn and we urge all Republicans to vote for him in this important election,” he told The Statesman.

On Friday night, in a staff editorial, The Denver Post calls Glenn’s contention a “cheap shot” and takes the candidate to task for saying he’s raising the questions “based on the rumor mill.”

Asked to elaborate on Glenn’s position, his spokeswoman had a brief reply.

“Darryl has stated that Mr. Keyser should focus on answering direct questions, whereas Darryl is now focused on Michael Bennet,” she said.

The candidates meet for their next debate on Wednesday afternoon at the Denver Petroleum Club.

– ernest@coloradostatesman.com