As Discussed on CNN, “Not As Easy As It May Sound” For Vulnerable Republicans To Distance Themselves From Trump
As he faces losing his short-lived stint as the Senate Majority Leader, the New York Times reports that Mitch McConnell has come up with a plan for vulnerable GOP Senators and Senate candidates to break from Donald Trump in the general election. The only problem is, those same people have already pledged to support the eventual nominee, even if it’s Trump, and many have praised his candidacy. So unless McConnell knows how to build a time machine, there is no plan that will work. We’ll let their own records explain why:
Senator Rob Portman: “I intend to” support Trump.
“Republicans have had to ponder how they’ll handle the possibility of Trump winning the race. Even the most prudent senators say they would back him in the general election. ‘I intend to,’ said Sen. Rob Portman (R), who faces a tough re-election in Ohio, a swing state and presidential battleground.” [The Hill, 9/14/15]
Senator Kelly Ayotte called Trump’s run “a positive thing,” held a private meeting with him.
“Republican Sen. Kelly Ayotte from New Hampshire said Tuesday that Donald Trump running for president is ‘a positive thing’ because it gives people more choices.” [BuzzFeed, 6/17/15]
“After that, Trump aides said he huddled in private meetings with US Senator Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire and 2012 New Hampshire Republican nominee for governor Ovide Lamontagne.” [Boston Globe, 4/18/15]
“Sen. Kelly Ayotte (R-N.H.) said she’ll ultimately support Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump if he wins the presidential nomination despite his controversial plan to ban Muslims from entering the country. ’Well, at this point, we’re going to let the people of New Hampshire sort this out,’ Ayotte said, according to New Hampshire Public Radio. ‘I’ll support the Republican nominee.’” [The Hill, 12/9/15]
Senator Pat Toomey benefited from Trump’s money, will support the Republican nominee.
“Pennsylvania’s Republican Party will feature Donald Trump as the guest at a New York City fundraiser…The party said it will spend the proceeds to help re-elect U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey and to increase the party’s members in Pennsylvania’s U.S. House delegation and the state Legislature.” [Associated Press, 12/1/15]
“Toomey is saying little about it. He intends to support the eventual Republican presidential nominee, whoever it is, he said, and he avoided discussing his feelings about how a Trump or Cruz nomination would affect his chances. ‘I try to make it a point not to worry about things I can’t control,’ Toomey said.” [Associated Press, 1/24/16]
Senator Ron Johnson has compared himself to Trump, praised his willingness to “tell the American people the truth.”
Johnson: “I think what’s resonating about Donald Trump, I’d like to think, some things is appealing about my candidacy here in Wisconsin.” [MSNBC, 8/13/15]
‘What Donald Trump brings to the table is somebody, again with a business background, somebody that actually knows how to negotiate, where we could use some of that, but also somebody that’s just beholden to no one, and be willing to tell the American people the truth,’ said Johnson.” [WJFW, 8/9/15]
“Asked whether Trump meets that criteria and asked again whether he would support Trump, Johnson repeated, ‘I will support the Republican nominee.’” [Capital Times, 12/14/15]
Senator Richard Burr will “absolutely” support Trump, is “delighted” by his “level of passion.”
Reporter: “If Trump ends up being the nominee would you support him?” Burr: “Absolutely. I will support the nominee regardless of who it is, and I think that Americans are searching right now for solutions to problems that affect them every day. And I think Donald Trump has done a tremendous job of highlighting those specific issues.” [News 14 Triangle, TWC News All Morning, 8/21/15]
On Donald Trump: ‘I think Donald Trump has brought a level of passion to running for office that I’m delighted to see. He’s approached a majority of the issues in a more common sense way that a majority of Americans can associate with.’ Burr said there are areas where he disagrees with Trump, but he said there is no candidate where he completely agrees with their stances.” [WNCN,8/20/15]
Senator John McCain on supporting Trump? “Oh yeah.” (Check out Kirkpatrick’s new video on this.)
Reporter: “Including Donald Trump? You would support him?” McCain: “Oh yeah. Oh yeah. I would support the nominee of the party.” [McCain, ABC 15 Interview, 11/14/2015]
Congressman Joe Heck said the party needs to come together to support the nominee after he “came down with a case of Trump-Itis.”
“When Heck spoke he reiterated the 2016 election season is ‘the most important election of our lifetime.’ He said not everyone may agree on a Republican candidate, but no matter who is selected the party must come together and support the nominee. He said the presidential race is not the only campaign that is important this year.” [Elko Daily Free Press, 2/8/16]
“Last week, the Republican congressman even came down with a case of Trump-itis…Asked about his party’s presidential frontrunner, the congressman added, ‘I don’t talk about Donald.’ That’s understandable, though when Heck said he’s willing to take a look at changing birthright citizenship as ‘part of the discussion,’ he necessarily allowed Donald Trump to affect the direction of his Senate campaign.” [MSNBC, 9/2/15]
Congressman Ron DeSantis “Silent” on Trump’s Proposal” to Ban Muslims from the US and said Trump would be “formidable”
“…recent national polls show that a majority of Republicans favor Trump’s call for a temporary ban on Muslims entering the United States. The Republican whom Jolly’s team views as his main rival, U.S. Rep. Ron DeSantis, has been conspicuously silent on the proposal…” [Tampa Bay Times, The Buzz, 12/10/15]
VAN SUSTEREN: But Senator Rubio represents Florida. I bet everyone in my home state knows who Senator Rubio is right now. And I’m from Wisconsin. Everybody knows him. Do they just not think that he has the capability to be president? DESANTIS: No, I don’t think so. I think that Donald has hit a nerve with a lot of folks. And quite frankly, I mean most of the other candidates have been attacking each other. And so Donald has been above the fray and then he has knee capped a lot of people too. So, you know, I think Marco is going to run good in Florida. I think Donald obviously is going to be formidable. I think it will be an important race. So I think what happens now and then will also have an effect with momentum.” [Fox News Network, Fox On The Record With Greta Van Susteren, 2/25/16] (VIDEO)
Congressman David Jolly “applauds Trump,” touts “similar priorities.”
“Since then, Jolly said, he has seen Trump’s tone soften. He applauds Trump’s calls to shake up Washington’s political establishment and they have similar priorities for veterans care and national security…” [Tampa Bay Times, 2/23/16]
Lopez-Cantera will support the nominee, even if it’s Trump
So we asked if Lt. Gov. Lopez-Cantera shared Wilson’s view of the man whom Gov. Rick Scott (CLC’s boss) seems to prefer. No, said a spokeswoman for Lopez-Cantera’s campaign. ‘In the Democratic primary there are two candidates running: a declared Socialist and someone who should be in jail. The Republican Party will put up a superior nominee and Carlos Lopez-Cantera will support the Republican nominee for President,’ said Courtney Alexander.” [Miami Herald, Naked Politics, 2/23/16]
Roy Blunt Will Support “Whoever Wins This Primary”
MILHAVEN: “I know you haven’t, or that I know of, thrown your considerable political heft behind anyone of these candidates, but I mean you have to be leaning towards one, two, or three of them don’t you?” BLUNT: “No. I don’t have to be and I have not endorsed one of these candidates and I am going to be for whoever wins this primary. My view is that what normally happens in a primary is that the best candidate is almost, of the people who are willing to run, almost always the person who winds up figuring out how to be the nominee. And we’ll see who that is.” [Senator Roy Blunt on McGraw Milhaven, 2/9/16] (AUDIO)
“Unless Mitch McConnell’s ‘Trump plan’ involves a time machine, Republicans can’t fool voters into thinking there’s any distance between their candidates and the toxic frontrunner,” said Lauren Passalacqua, DSCC National Press Secretary. “The GOP incumbents and candidates who pledged allegiance to their party and its eventual nominee helped make their Donald Trump nightmare a reality, and no amount of political maneuvering will protect them from the fallout.”
