Trump grappled Thursday (Friday in Manila) with fallout from multiple recent missteps, amid a new round of unfavorable polls and as House Speaker Paul Ryan reiterated that his support for the Republican presidential nominee was not guaranteed.
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Two of Trump’s staunchest Republican critics say Trump may have done irreversible damage in two critical states, Arizona and OH, with an approach to immigration reform that some say is divisive.
It was a stunning reversal for Trump, a candidate who is known for his refusal to admit mistakes and whose general election campaign has been defined by his constant attacks on fellow Republicans. Kelli Ward of Lake Havasu City, had crowed earlier this week about having Trump’s “unofficial” endorsement.
Vos called on Trump to admit he’d made a mistake in “supporting a bigot like Paul Nehlen, who said we should ban a religion”.
It’s not clear that Ryan is keen to receive Trump’s endorsement. His timing was a bit curious, competing with the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. Gov. Scott Walker, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, will be touring flood damage in the northern part of the state, while Paul Ryan will be in his district, and Sen. “He’s a good man”, Trump added, flashing a grin and two thumps up to a crowd in applause. “Lyin’ Ted Cruz had the Governor of Wisconsin, many conservative talk radio show hosts, and the entire party apparatus behind him”, the campaign’s statement that night read.
The latest NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll has Clinton leading Trump by nine points nationally, 47 percent to 38 percent, while a trio of other surveys show her widening her lead in battleground states.
Jansen then clarified that she meant the characterization “as a compliment”, noting that the 11-year-old had asked a “tough question” of the Republican vice presidential nominee.
Trump’s endorsement plan emerged as he took other steps to get his campaign back on track after days of controversy and falling poll numbers that have given Democrat Hillary Clinton the advantage in the race to the November 8 election.
Just as his campaign reeled under the Khan fallout, Trump invited fresh criticism for comments some branded as victim blaming. “In our shared mission to make America great again, I support and endorse our Speaker of the House Paul Ryan”, he said, to cheers from the Green Bay crowd. “They deserve our respect”. Republican leaders and military veterans have called on Trump to apologize for criticizing the Khan family, who appeared at last week’s Democratic National Convention.
Trump said Wednesday he saw video showing the money being delivered. “No, I was not”, Schricker said.
Trump backtracked the next day: “Of course I’m being sarcastic”.
Whatever Trump said on these and other issues was lost.
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“I may have short circuited and for that I will try to clarify”, Clinton said, though still insisting she “never sent or received anything that was marked classified”.
