In an effort to fix some of the damage he had inflicted on his presidential campaign, Donald Trump endorsed House Speaker Paul Ryan to end a four-day standoff that exposed the deep chasms in the Republican Party over his candidacy.
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But now, Trump is reading pre-written notes on how much he likes and respects Ryan, McCain and Ayotte.
Speaking in Green Bay, Wis., on Friday, Trump cited exactly that – party unity – as his reason for endorsing Ryan, albeit belatedly.
By his side was running mate Mike Pence, who praised Trump’s off the cuff style that’s found the campaign in hot water.
But he then endorsed the Arizona and New Hampshire senators in their primary races, CNN said. Kelly Ayotte, with whom he has sparred. “We may disagree on a couple of things, but mostly we agree”.
Now, Trump said, Republicans need to come together to defeat Hillary Clinton in the fall.
An aide to Ryan said Friday, “He appreciates the gesture and is going to continue to focus on earning the endorsement of the voters in southern Wisconsin”. “I understand and embrace the wisdom of Ronald Reagan’s big tent within the party”, Trump stated.
Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker also skipped the evening rally, preferring to attend an all-you-can-eat spaghetti dinner. Ryan wants to cut safety net programs – Trump does not.
The Midwest mayhem underscored Trump’s mounting challenges during one of the most tumultuous weeks of his unorthodox campaign.
Eager to change their minds, Trump unleashed a torrent of insults at Clinton throughout the day. “And very importantly, toward real change”, Trump said.
Trump called his Democratic opponent a risky liar, an unbalanced person, pretty close to unhinged, totally unfit to lead and lacking the judgment, temperament and moral character to lead the country..
“Her greatest achievement is getting out of trouble”, Trump said of the Justice Department’s decision not to file charges.
The conservative columnist, Ann Coulter, threw her support behind Paul Ryan’s challenger and joined Nehlen to campaign on Saturday. “He makes news when he tosses red meat out to people … but that’s going to drive even more people away” from his message.
“I can’t wait for Tuesday to come so that we can re elect Paul, send him back to Congress”, Kerkman said.
After a rough week where he went from criticizing the family of a slain Muslim US soldier to ejecting a wailing baby from a campaign event, Trump managed, polls quickly suggested, to make his own path to the presidency steeper, in part by alienating critical voters and volunteers from his own conflicted party.
Meanwhile, Clinton is opening substantial leads over Trump in opinion polls.
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Trump “may well pose a threat to our national security”, he wrote in a New York Times column. He dismissed questions about Trump withholding his endorsement during several radio interviews Friday morning.
