“Portman raised eyebrows last fall, declaring he would support Donald Trump if he were the Republican nominee. That has not changed.”
In a recent interview, Senator Rob Portman was asked if GOP frontrunner Donald Trump could do anything “so polarizing, so outrageous” that would compel the vulnerable incumbent to reconsider supporting Trump if he wins the nomination. As WKYC reported, Portman’s plan to back nominee Trump “has not changed.”
REPORTER TOM BERES: At the moment, if we took a snapshot today, Mr. Trump’s at the top of the heap, you would still support him if he is the nominee? You would support him if he is the nominee?
PORTMAN: Well I’ve said something from the start, something very simple, which is I intend to support the Republican nominee. I also said unless something crazy happens, so yeah, I intend to support the nominee…
BERES: Not to belabor but final Trump question: is there anything he could say or do that would be so polarizing, so outrageous that you could not stand behind him?
PORTMAN: He’s already said a bunch of things I disagree with and I think I’ve made that clear that I think a guy like John Kasich is much better positioned…
Senator Portman has repeatedly pledged to support Trump if he is the nominee, and now Portman has made clear there’s nothing Trump could say or do that would make him revoke his promise to support the eventual nominee, even if it’s Trump. Portman may disagree with the Donald’s statements, but he doesn’t have the courage to say he’d oppose him if he wins the nomination.
“Trump has already made polarizing and outrageous comments about women, Muslims and Hispanics that should disqualify his candidacy, but Rob Portman doesn’t have the courage to say he’d oppose Trump if he is the nominee,” said Lauren Passalacqua, DSCC National Press Secretary. “There’s nothing Trump could say or do to make Rob Portman change his mind, and that’s a truly scary thought for Ohio families.”
