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Kaine's Wife Anne Holton Talks Education In Campaign Visit

DENVER (CBS4) - More and more family members of the two leading candidates for president are make their pitch to Coloradans.

This week that included Anne Holton, wife of Democratic vice presidential candidate Sen. Tim Kaine, and Donald Trump Jr.

Trump Jr. was in Colorado on Wednesday and on Thursday Holton held an education roundtable at Metropolitan State University of Denver.

Anne Holton
Anne Holton speaks at Metropolitan State University of Denver (credit: CBS)

Judging by the continuing appearances by the candidates and family members in the centennial state, it would appear Colorado still will play a big role on Election Day.

Most pollsters and pundits would say no, but neither Donald Trump nor Hillary Clinton's campaign is chancing it.

Holton hasn't been on the campaign trail long. On Thursday she talked about why Colorado was high on the list of states for Democrats to rally supporters.

"We are working hard to deliver to Hillary's message about why we need to build an economy that works for everyone," Holton said.

Anne Holton
Anne Holton, wife of Democratic vice presidential candidate Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA), speaks during a campaign event August 1, 2016 in Richmond, Virginia. (credit: Alex Wong/Getty Images)

"My husband is my best political advisor and he says this is going to be a close race everywhere. And I believe that. We're making history and that makes it extra hard. Therefore it's going to be close, I believe, in Colorado and everywhere and we're working hard to put her over the top."

Holton was formerly the secretary of education in Virginia. She said Clinton has taken heat over her recent criticism of charter schools, but Holton insisted she is a supporter of school choice.

"(Clinton) has absolutely affirmed that she is supportive, that parents want and need options and has affirmed publicly recently that she is supportive of high quality public charters with proper oversight," she said.

Democratic National Convention: Day Four
Democratic vice presidential candidate Tim Kaine and his wife Anne Holton wave to the crowd following his address to delegates on Day 3 of the Democratic National Convention at the Wells Fargo Center, July 27, 2016 in Philadelphia. (credit: ROBYN BECK/AFP/Getty Images)

"She is not enthusiastic about for-profits, not enthusiastic about some of the cyber, online charters that have had such problems so that all gets into (the fact that) we need high quality schools whatever they are."

Holton says one of the biggest issues for charter and traditional public schools is attracting and retaining quality teachers, and she says Clinton wants to figure out how to invest more in teachers.

She also told CBS4 she also supports Clinton's plan to make college tuition free for students whose families earn $85,000 or less.

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