Pence said he spoke with Trump on Wednesday morning, and the GOP presidential nominee “strongly encouraged me to endorse Paul Ryan in next Tuesday’s primary”, Pence said.
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McCain had been particularly incensed over Trump’s insults against the parents of U.S. Army Capt. Humayun Khan, chiding Trump’s decision to “defame those who are the best among us”. Donald Trump’s refusal to back McCain and others in the party for re-election is a remarkable break in political decorum, but one that matches in some way their own hesitance to fully back their own party’s nominee for president. From the podium of the Democratic National Convention, Khizr Khan criticized Trump’s position on Muslims and asked whether the real estate mogul had read the Constitution.
Pence told his Phoenix audience that Trump “will bring no-nonsense leadership to the White House” and “restore law and order to our cities and streets” by strengthening and supporting law enforcement nationwide. John McCain, two of the GOP’s highest-ranking elected officials, in their primary campaigns.
Pence went on to say in his interview: “Well I think what Donald Trump said, he is not there yet”.
Roday added that the Ryan team was “confident in a victory next week regardless”. Wisconsin’s Ryan faces a Republican primary challenge next Tuesday from businessman Paul Nehlon, whom Trump praised for running a “very good campaign”. Trump, a former reality TV star, has troubled many in the Republican establishment with his off-the-cuff, often insulting style, and controversial policies, including the proposed ban on Muslims and his plan to build a wall along the Mexican border to keep out illegal immigrants.
Also Tuesday, the woman who helped shape New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie’s national image declared that she’s voting for Clinton.
The chorus of complaints against Trump grew on Tuesday.
“Trump’s bombast is already alarming our allies and fuelling the enmity of our enemies”, says Mr Romney, while Mr Gates raises concerns about the Republican party nominee’s “admiration” for Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Nehlen said he has not asked for Trump’s endorsement but would love to have it. He called Trump “deeply flawed in endless ways”, “unrepentant” and “self-involved”.
Trump made his declarations in an interview with the Washington Post in which he also hit out at New Hampshire Senator Kelly Ayotte. Trump said the grieving father had “no right” to criticize him, only later acknowledging their son is a hero.
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Ahead of last month’s Republican Party Convention, the RNC sought to rally the fractured party behind Trump. A poll taken in mid-July shows Ryan is leading his challenger by almost 50 points.
