Many Republicans up for reelection this year have found themselves in a bind when it comes to the party’s leader, Donald Trump. For down-ballot Republicans running in swing states, this year’s election has meant walking on a razor’s edge with some strange combination of “supporting,” but “not endorsing” or “campaigning with,” but “not stumping for,” Trump.
For many Republicans in tight races, the resurrection of a 2005 video of Trump making lewd comments about women was the last straw. In the days following the leaked video, many Republicans cut their ties with Trump, after Paul Ryan – the highest elected Republican in the nation – gave them the OK to do so.
So which down-ballot Republican candidates are still standing with Trump? According to the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee… all of them.
In just one minute, the DSCC showed clips of 10 Republican candidates voicing some form of lukewarm support for Trump. Some notable candidates in this ad include, Marco Rubio in Florida, who tussled with Trump vigorously during the presidential primary, but is seen in this ad enthusiastically telling a crowd, “We have to make sure that Donald wins this election.”
We also see a clip of Republican Ohio Senatorial Candidate Rob Portman who says, “I’m sure that once President Trump takes over its’s going to be fine – it’s going to be great!” Portman is one of the candidates definitely not being negatively affected by Trump – he has basically already won his election against Democrat Ted Strickland, and the Democrats know it.
The last clip is of New Hampshire Senate candidate Kelly Ayotte saying at a recent debate that she would “absolutely” consider Trump a good role model. She later walked that statement back, but her opponent, Democrat Maggie Hassan, already had the attack ads rolling.
The ad goes out with one last reminder of what Trump said in the leaked 2005 tape – you know; in case anyone hasn’t heard it enough already.
Despite already having a history of bashing fellow Republicans, like Mark Kirk of Illinois, or more famously John McCain, Trump adds new GOP enemies to his list seemingly every day. Lately, Paul Ryan has been the main recipient of Trump’s fury. After the second presidential debate, Trump tweeted, “it is hard to do well when Paul Ryan and other give zero support.” He followed that up less than an hour later, tweeting “Our very weak and ineffective leader, Paul Ryan, had a bad conference call where his members went wild at his disloyalty.” That was in reference to Ryan telling his GOP colleagues to go ahead and disavow Trump if they had to.
Well down-ballot Trump supporters may have been feigning their anger – they all seemed to be pretty happy about leaving Trump.
For many Republicans in tight races, the resurrection of a 2005 video of Trump making lewd comments about women was the last straw. In the days following the leaked video, many Republicans cut their ties with Trump, after Paul Ryan – the highest elected Republican in the nation – gave them the OK to do so.
So which down-ballot Republican candidates are still standing with Trump? According to the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee… all of them.
Burning Down the House… And Senate
Sources differ on the exact effect Trump is having on down-ballot Republicans. Many presumed that Trump’s extreme views would be bad news for Republicans in swing states, but so far, that doesn’t seem to be the case. But the Democrats aren’t going to stop trying to tie GOP congressional candidates to their bombastic party leader anyway.In just one minute, the DSCC showed clips of 10 Republican candidates voicing some form of lukewarm support for Trump. Some notable candidates in this ad include, Marco Rubio in Florida, who tussled with Trump vigorously during the presidential primary, but is seen in this ad enthusiastically telling a crowd, “We have to make sure that Donald wins this election.”
We also see a clip of Republican Ohio Senatorial Candidate Rob Portman who says, “I’m sure that once President Trump takes over its’s going to be fine – it’s going to be great!” Portman is one of the candidates definitely not being negatively affected by Trump – he has basically already won his election against Democrat Ted Strickland, and the Democrats know it.
The last clip is of New Hampshire Senate candidate Kelly Ayotte saying at a recent debate that she would “absolutely” consider Trump a good role model. She later walked that statement back, but her opponent, Democrat Maggie Hassan, already had the attack ads rolling.
The ad goes out with one last reminder of what Trump said in the leaked 2005 tape – you know; in case anyone hasn’t heard it enough already.
So How Is Donald Trump Taking his Breakup with The GOP?
Donald Trump entered the 2016 presidential race with a promise: to hold long-time Republicans’ feet to the fire, and if they crossed him, to treat them just as hard as he would a Democrat. Well that is certainly a promise he aims to keep.Despite already having a history of bashing fellow Republicans, like Mark Kirk of Illinois, or more famously John McCain, Trump adds new GOP enemies to his list seemingly every day. Lately, Paul Ryan has been the main recipient of Trump’s fury. After the second presidential debate, Trump tweeted, “it is hard to do well when Paul Ryan and other give zero support.” He followed that up less than an hour later, tweeting “Our very weak and ineffective leader, Paul Ryan, had a bad conference call where his members went wild at his disloyalty.” That was in reference to Ryan telling his GOP colleagues to go ahead and disavow Trump if they had to.
Well down-ballot Trump supporters may have been feigning their anger – they all seemed to be pretty happy about leaving Trump.