Sen. Rob Portman Pulls His Endorsement Of Donald Trump

This Tuesday, July 30, 2013 photo shows Sen. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, at the Capitol, in Washington. Portman says he can’t understand President Barack Obama’s refusal to negotiate on ending the federal shutdown impas... This Tuesday, July 30, 2013 photo shows Sen. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, at the Capitol, in Washington. Portman says he can’t understand President Barack Obama’s refusal to negotiate on ending the federal shutdown impasse. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) MORE LESS
Start your day with TPM.
Sign up for the Morning Memo newsletter

Sen. Rob Portman (R-OH) announced Saturday night he was retracting his endorsement of Republican Presidential Nominee Donald Trump after a tape of Trump talking about forcing himself on women surfaced.

“I had hoped to support the candidate my party nominated in the primary process. I thought it was appropriate to respect the millions of voters across the country who chose Donald Trump as the Republican Party nominee,” Portman said in a statement. “While I continue to respect those who still support Donald Trump, I can no longer support him. I continue to believe our country cannot afford a Hillary Clinton presidency. I will be voting for Mike Pence for President.”

Portman has been outrunning Trump in his Senate race in Ohio for months at this points. Even as the Republican National Convention in July, which took place in Portman’s own state, Portman did not give a primetime speech on Trump’s behalf.

Instead of spending all his time at the Quicken Loans Arena, Portman spent his time with campaign volunteers and kayaked with reporters and wounded veterans.

Portman’s statement against Trump Saturday night came after a host of lawmakers had already disavowed the nominee. Portman joined Sens. Kelly Ayotte (R-NH), John McCain (R-AZ), Deb Fischer (R-NE), John Thune (R-SD) and many others.

Latest Livewire

Notable Replies

  1. Another example of exemplary leadership from a White Republican who has a gay son.

  2. Yep. Pence is their backdoor man.
    Keep it coolin’, baby.

  3. “While I continue to respect those who still support Donald Trump, I can no longer support him. I continue to believe our country cannot afford a Hillary Clinton presidency. I will be voting for Mike Pence for President.”

    A “profile in courage”, delivered late on a Saturday night when he hopes nobody’s looking.

  4. I continue to believe our country cannot afford a Hillary Clinton presidency. I will be voting for Mike Pence for President.

    What does this even mean? That you are going to defeat Crooked Hillary with a write in campaign? Because, it’s super important she loses, right? And that’s going to totally work.

    Or does it mean you are going to vote for Pence for VP? And pretend you didn’t just vote for Donald?

    Seems like you got nuthin’. You are fucked because you are a spineless GOPer. Resign now.

Continue the discussion at forums.talkingpointsmemo.com

88 more replies

Participants

Avatar for paulw Avatar for mmurdoch Avatar for meri Avatar for jloomis3 Avatar for bluestatedon Avatar for teenlaqueefa Avatar for becca656 Avatar for carlosfiance Avatar for inversion Avatar for mantan Avatar for chelsea530 Avatar for yskov Avatar for frankly_my_dear Avatar for alyoshakaramazov1 Avatar for theghostofeustacetilley Avatar for tena Avatar for beattycat Avatar for olderbudnoweiser Avatar for dommyluc Avatar for antisachetdethe Avatar for chlarry Avatar for tiowally Avatar for centralasiaexpat Avatar for overthefall96

Continue Discussion
Masthead Masthead
Founder & Editor-in-Chief:
Executive Editor:
Managing Editor:
Deputy Editor:
Editor at Large:
General Counsel:
Publisher:
Head of Product:
Director of Technology:
Associate Publisher:
Front End Developer:
Senior Designer: