With fewer than 100 days left until Election Day, Arizona Republican Sen.
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Republican Senator of Arizona Jeff Flake claimed that Donald Trump is in danger of losing the state in November, a state that has been a consistent win for Republican presidential candidates.
“The statements he made out of the gate about those crossing the border being rapists and whatnot ― that doesn’t sit well”, Flake said on CBS’s “Face the Nation,” referring to Trump.
Flake pointed out Hispanics make up about a third of the population.
DICKERSON: You mentioned Arizona and some of the effects of what Mr. Trump said on voters in that state. “And if they do, then it will be a changed ballgame here”, he said. “We in Arizona realize that we’ve got to have meaningful immigration reform, you can’t just throw platitudes out there abut a wall or Mexico paying for it”.
While Flake isn’t the only Republican struggling with Trump’s unorthodox campaign, the real estate mogul’s blistering attacks on immigrants is a particularly potent sting for Flake, who has long worked on the issue and is facing a 2018 reelection bid in a state that’s rapidly diversifying, especially with Latinos.
When asked if he’s passed the point where he would be able to back Trump, Flake said that he still hopes he can support the Republican nominee. “John McCain for his service to our country in uniform and in public office, and I fully support and endorse his re-election”, Trump said.
“In 1996 Bill Clinton won in Arizona, so it’s possible”.
“I would argue that he simply can’t get there”.
“He’s only received about 14 million votes in the primary so far”, Flake said, saying it will take about 65 million votes to win in November. “And so, I think that, yes, he does have to change positions and be a more serious candidate”. “It’s becoming increasingly hard to see that he’s going to make the changes that he needs to”. But the assurances, Flake said, were not enough.
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“Mike and I go way back”. He also criticized Trump’s positions on North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, his proposed Muslim ban, and free trade.
