Two More GOP Leaders, Including Kelly Ayotte, Withdraw Endorsements From Trump

J.D. DurkinOct 8th, 2016, 12:18 pm
 

GOPThe woes continue for the Trump camp as they try continue to assess the damage after the latest flap to shake the campaign trail.

Just one day after leaked audio from 2005 exposed the GOP nominee on a hot mic speaking lewdly about grabbing women, two more Republican officials have officially withdrawn their endorsements.

Republican Senator Mike Crapo of Idaho, who first endorsed Trump during a May 12 event, has rescinded his support for the candidate.

“Make no mistake — we need conservative leadership in the White House,” Senator Crapo said in his statement. “I urge Donald Trump to step aside and allow the Republican party to put forward a conservative candidate like Mike Pence who can defeat Hillary Clinton.”

Joining Crapo a short time later was New Hampshire Senator Kelly Ayotte, whose own reelection fight has put her in a tough position regarding her support for Trump in the past, has also withdrawn her endorsement.

Ayotte said in a statement, “I will not be voting for Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton and instead will be writing in Governor Pence for President on Election Day.”

Ayotte publicly struggled with Trump’s rhetoric surrounding Judge Gonzalo P. Curiel earlier this year, which Ayotte referred to then as “offensive and wrong.” Although she has condemned the Republican standard-bearer in the past, Friday night’s news was the last straw for her support. Ayotte most recently came under fir for referring to Donald Trump as a role model, saying, “Well I think certainly there are many role models that we have and I believe he can serve as president so absolutely I can do that.”

Last night, Utah Congressman Jason Chaffetz, an influential member of the party who has largely led the charge into the investigation of Hillary Clinton‘s email controversy, emphatically told Don Lemon that he would be withdrawing his endorsement from Trump as well. “I’m out,” Chaffetz said.

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