With the GOP both energized and torn over Trump’s rise, Trump and Ryan pledged to work together despite their differences, though the speaker stopped short of a full-throated endorsement.
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“I think Libertarians, a lot of [Tea Party members], a lot of constitutional conservatives, and probably less relevantly establishment Republicans, are looking for another option as well”, said Kibbe, who has traditionally voted Republican but plans to attend the GOP, Democratic, and Libertarian conventions in search of a candidate, and is open to likely Libertarian nominee former New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson.
“Paul Ryan wasn’t elected to be anything more than a congressman”, said Pirro on Fox News’ “Outnumbered” on Friday.
“I think the question is, where are we going from here?” Trump has repeatedly angered women, Hispanics and others with off-the-cuff comments that many thought could have proved politically fatal to most candidates.
The chairman of the Republican Party says Donald Trump has been trying hard to be presidential and doing that well lately. “Accordingly, if left with no alternative, I will not support Trump in the general election should he become our Republican nominee”.
Priebus also expressed uncertainly about what Trump must do to broaden his appeal among voters, saying people have been “completely wrong about Donald Trump and the playbook”.
Some Republicans continue to hold out hope that a leading figure in the party could be persuaded to run for president as a third-party candidate to give party voters uncomfortable with Trump a candidate to rally around. “I said this the other day – to pretend that we are unified as a party after coming through a very bruising primary that just ended like a week ago – to pretend we are unifying without actually unifying then we go into fall at half-strength”.
Ryan could have echoed his Republican colleague from Virginia, Scott Rigell, who has said: “My love for our country eclipses my loyalty to our party, and to live with a clear conscience I will not support a nominee so lacking in the judgement, temperament and character needed to be our nation’s commander in chief”.
“Obviously he’s a salesman”. Moreover, by not releasing his tax returns, they said, “there’s no way for the American people to know if Donald Trump is paying his fair share of taxes”.
The Post has unearthed a recording of that 1991 phone call. On NBC’s “Today” show Friday, Trump denied the voice was his. “I will concede that this has been a little bit more of a heated primary, so it may take a little bit longer than in years past, but we will come together”, state Republican Chairman Blaise Ingoglia told The News Service of Florida during an interview Friday afternoon.
Asked about Trump’s departure from GOP orthodoxy on some issues – such as his opposition to trade treaties and to culling savings from big benefit programs like Medicare – Priebus downplayed the differences.
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“I don’t think Donald Trump is interested in rewriting the platform of the Republican Party”, said Priebus.
