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In Colorado, Trump Gives One Of His Most Disciplined Speeches

By Stan Bush

LOVELAND, Colo. (CBS4) - Donald Trump finished a swing through Colorado Monday trying to take the air out of a story in Sunday's New York Times that revealed he hadn't paid federal taxes in 18 years.

"The unfairness of the tax laws is unbelievable," says Trump. "It's something that I've been talking about for a long time, despite being a very big beneficiary, I must admit."

The Republican nominee told a large, but not sold-out crowd at the Budweiser Events Center that if elected he would slash corporate taxes to stimulate the economy.

Donald Trump
Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump addresses supporters at the Budweiser Events Center in Loveland on Oct. 3, 2016. Trump was making his second of two campaign stops in Colorado, considered one of several swing states, which could be a deciding factor in the November general election. (credit: JASON CONNOLLY/AFP/Getty Images)

Trump defended his financial dealings as part of a business strategy; while also attacking the Obama Administration for not collecting enough tax income to repair crumbling infrastructure.

At the same time, Trump said it was his responsibility to not contribute federal taxes.

"It's my job always to minimize the overall tax burden," he said.

The speech in Loveland may have been his most disciplined of his campaign. He spoke almost completely from a teleprompter, mentioned Colorado-centric proposals, and avoided repeating claims he made hours earlier where he called veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress "weak."

The dramatic turn in attitude comes after what was arguably his worst week on the campaign trail.

A Monmouth University poll shows Trump trailing in Colorado by 11 points after the first presidential debate and a series of late night tweets where the candidate blasted a former Miss Universe.

Stan Bush is a general assignment reporter at CBS4. His stories can be seen on CBS4 News at 10. Read his bio and follow him on Twitter @StanBushTV.

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