An upstate Republican congressman split ranks Tuesday with his party to endorse Hillary Clinton over “deeply flawed” GOP nominee Donald Trump.
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Mr Trump has faced a barrage of criticism in recent days from political allies as well as opponents after he criticised the parents of US Army Captain Humayun Khan, who was killed in Iraq in 2004.
“My reasons were simple and personal”, he wrote.
In the Post-Standard Op-Ed piece, Congressman Hanna said Trump is “unrepentant in all things”.
“He is unfit to serve our party and can not lead this country”, the 65-year-old said of Trump.
While he gives only lukewarm support to the former Secretary of State and U.S. Senator from NY, he said Clinton represents a far better choice on the November ballot.
The Republican party, Hanna said, is becoming increasingly less capable of nominating a presidential candidate who is electable.
He said he thought it might have been after Trump insulted Republican Sen.
Trump also has trailed Clinton in fundraising.
Trump last summer said former Vietnam prisoner of war McCain wasn’t a hero because he was captured, before going on to win his party’s nomination. For me, it is not enough to simply denounce his comments: “He is unfit to serve our party and can not lead this country”.
Trump, speaking at a rally here Tuesday, said voters would stick with him over Clinton because of his vow to appoint conservative justices to the Supreme Court. “She symbolizes everything I think is wrong with this state and country”.
Trump, who has said his business success qualifies him to lead the country, defended his record running his hotel and casino business in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
“I’m telling you, November 8, we’d better be careful, because that election is going to be rigged”, he said.
In response, Trump sought to attack the Khans, saying he would have liked to hear Mrs. Khan speak, but she probably wasn’t allowed to do so, churning out a long-held stereotypical line of an oppressed Muslim woman.
Mirroring the language Ryan used about supporting Trump before his eventual endorsement, Trump told the newspaper he was “not quite there yet” in endorsing Ryan, the highest ranking elected Republican, in next Tuesday’s Wisconsin primary.
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A Collins spokesman could not be reached for comment.
