Washington – The reaction of congressional Republicans to Donald Trump’s ascension ranged from subdued to silent on Wednesday, a day after the billionaire TV personality was all but anointed as the party’s presidential nominee.
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A day after a decisive Indiana primary victory left Trump the sole GOP presidential contender standing, aides to House Speaker Paul Ryan, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and other top Republicans did not immediately return phone and email messages seeking comment.
Other Republicans offered less than full-throated promises to help him win the White House.
“I plan to put all of my support behind the Republican nominee and do whatever is asked of me to ensure a Republican is elected president,” said Rep. Michael Burgess, R-Texas, in a statement that lacked Trump’s name. Burgess had backed Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, who ended his presidential bid Tuesday evening.
The hushed reaction underscored GOP concern that Trump’s uninhibited remarks about women, Hispanics and others will cost congressional candidates at the polls in November.
Ryan, R-Wis., and McConnell, R-Ky., have criticized Trump’s comments. Ryan has policy proposals in the works on taxes and other issues that House GOP candidates can tout regardless of what Trump does, while McConnell has privately told senators that lawmakers seeking re-election could drop him “like a hot rock.”
“What we know right now is obviously concerning,” Mike Shields, who heads the Congressional Leadership Fund, a political group that helps House GOP candidates, said of Trump’s remarks in an interview Wednesday.
Sen. Ben Sasse, R-Neb., a leading Trump foe, tweeted Tuesday evening: “Reporters keep asking if Indiana changes anything for me. The answer is simple: No.”
In contrast, Democrats were eager to link GOP congressional candidates to their party’s presumptive presidential nominee.
A press release by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee said, “House Republicans: Welcome to the Trump Ticket, House Republicans’ Nightmare Has Become Reality.” The committee is House Democrats’ campaign organization.
Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick, D-Ariz., challenging veteran Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., saw Trump’s victory as a fundraising opportunity.
“This is scary. Trump is dangerous for Arizona families,” she said in an email to supporters that added, “This is our chance to defeat McCain. Donate $5 now.”