WASHINGTON, Oct. 10 (UPI) — Less than a month before the general election, the Republican party might be more conflicted than ever about whether to continue supporting nominee Donald Trump, considering the wave of backlash in recent days.
Turmoil in the GOP has grown significantly since a 2005 interview was uncovered last week by The Washington Post, in which the billionaire makes several disparaging remarks about women.
Trump’s support, which has never been widespread, is now even more splintered among the party’s most influential members.
Support Suspended
As of Monday, it appeared that most of the party’s prominent leaders had either revoked their support of Trump or are teetering on the precipice.
House Speaker Paul Ryan, who only endorsed Trump after many weeks of refusing to do so, quickly pulled his backing. Instead, he said he will use the remaining time before the election to work to keep the GOP’s control in Congress.
Idaho Sen. Mike Crapo was one of the first Republican senators to renounce Trump.
“I can no longer endorse Donald Trump,” he said Saturday. “I urge Donald Trump to step aside.”
Arizona Sen. John McCain, whose support has been lukewarm at best, is also now off the Trump bandwagon.
“There are no excuses for Donald Trump’s offensive behavior. Cindy and I will not vote for him,” he tweeted.
Michael Reagan, the son of GOP icon Ronald Reagan, said his father “would be embarrassed” and opined that Trump “has lost his mind.”
“I ask all who loved my father to vote down ballot to save the Country and Republican Party,” he said.
Former National Security Adviser Condolezza Rice is in Trump’s corner no longer, declaring “enough!” on her Facebook page.
“He should withdraw,” she said.
Others who pulled support or will remain unsupportive are Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley, former GOP adviser Sally Bradshaw, Maine Sen. Susan Collins, Utah Gov.Gary Herbert, and Utah Rep. Jason Chaffetz.
Yet To Pull Their Support
Several members of the conservative party have not yet publicly pulled support for the controversial billionaire, despite the emergence of the inflammatory comments.
Perhaps the first name under this category is the most significant and least surprising — vice presidential candidate and Indiana Gov. Mike Pence, who reaffirmed his intention to stand with Trump through decision day on Nov. 8.
Pence said he was offended by Trump’s remarks but determined to maintain working toward what he’s called the biggest “honor” of his life.
Some in the party, though, are advocating for Pence to take over the GOP ticket.
Former candidate Ted Cruz, who waited until Sept. 23 to formally endorse Trump,and 2012 GOP nominee Mitt Romney have expressed disapproval of the remarks about women but have not indicated they will pull their votes.
“Every wife, mother, daughter — every person — deserves to be treated with dignity and respect,” Cruz tweeted. “These comments are disturbing and inappropriate, there is simply no excuse for them.”
Sunday, though, Cruz questioned why it took so long for the tape to be made public — indicating a belief it may have been a planned October Surprise.
Sen. John Cornyn, the upper chamber’s No. 2 Republican, said he was “disgusted” by Trump’s remarks and disappointed that the race has become a “race to the bottom” — but has not yet said he won’t vote for Trump.
Others who have not yet stated a change in their votes are House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, former candidate Ben Carson and Iowa Sen. Joni Ernst, one of the billionaire’s female supporters in the Senate.
Polls nationwide in the last few days have shown rapidly sinking support for Trump, in light of the 2005 comments. The latest UPI/CVoter survey has Democrat Hillary Clinton with a wider lead on Trump in Electoral College votes.
