WASHINGTON — Republican voters is on the way to put forward his candidacy Donald Trump has left Senate GOP skeptics in five stages of grief at various points as he bids for a third consecutive term.
Some, like Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, were accepted to start the primary after Trump’s comfortable wins in Iowa and New Hampshire.
Cornyn, a former Republican whip, previously argued that he could not win the 2024 general election because he was unable to appeal to voters outside of Trump’s core base. Now he is one of the 30 senators who support Trump for the presidency.
“I think the single most important thing we can do is replace Joe Biden,” Cornyn said Wednesday. “That’s why I think it’s important to unite behind a candidate, and I respect the choices of the voters in Iowa and New Hampshire. I think you’re going to see that happen again in South Carolina.”
He added a piece of advice to Trump: Elect Sen. Tim Scott, R.S.C., the A failed GOP presidential candidate who was widely favored by his Senate colleagues as a vice presidential candidate.
But other top Republicans are closer to the bargaining stage, refusing to declare Trump the nominee but saying they will support him. if provides candidacy.
“The voters are seriously breaking in his favor. He’s in a commanding position, and I’ve said all along: I’m going to support the nominee,” said Senate Minority Whip John Tun, RS, who previously endorsed Scott for president. told reporters. “So if [Trump is] If nominated, I will do everything I can to help the team win the presidency and the Senate.”
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, who has a tumultuous relationship with Trump, declined to answer multiple questions on Tuesday about the former president, his legal troubles or the GOP primary, telling reporters he was only following the New Hampshire primary. great interest.
On Wednesday, after Trump was declared the winner, McConnell remained silent when asked if he planned to endorse him.
“I don’t know anything about that,” McConnell said.
A member of the Republican leadership, Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, said he would support President Joe Biden’s GOP challenger, even though he did not support Trump.
“I just want to beat Joe Biden. ok? “Even if we get there, I’m happy with everything,” he said. “So that will be my focus. So I will reserve my comment until the general election. But Joe Biden has to go. We all know that. So at some point we will all unite to target Joe Biden. He is the one we should focus on.”
Others have made it clear that they will not support Trump even if he wins the nomination.
“I don’t at the moment. No,” said Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine.
“Each senator has to make his own decision. I’m glad to hear last night that Nikki Haley is determined to stay,” said Collins, one of seven GOP senators who voted to impeach Trump after his impeachment trial. 6.
Sen. Todd Young, R-Ind., was blunt about Trump: “I have no intention of endorsing him.” He joked that his words were unlikely to be “breaking news again”.
Asked if he would change his position now that some of his colleagues are supporting Trump, Young said: “I never felt the need to join the establishment. And if I’m an outsider, I accept it.”
Sen. Rand Paul, who lost to Trump in a crowded 2016 GOP primary, left the door open to endorsing the former president: “We’ll see in time.”
Scott endorsed Trump last week He is ahead of the New Hampshire primary, but another of his supporters, Sen. Mike Rounds, R-S. WHO confirmed Sbed His run for president last year did not fall short of Trump’s, suggesting he still harbors concerns about whether he is running a strong general election.
“Certainly, other candidates have shown in polls that they would get more support than the former president,” Rounds said. “That doesn’t mean he can’t win the next election.” The concern of most of us is that President Biden – and what he’s done with Bidenomics, what he’s done with foreign policy – has failed this country. That’s why we must change administrations.”
Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, the only Republican to vote to impeach Trump in both cases, said he would never support him.
“I was one of those who voted for his impeachment trial. One of the consequences of this was that he would not be able to run again,” said Romney. “How can I confirm that someone I voted for has committed a felony and misdemeanor violation under the constitutional standard?”
The House’s most conservative Democrat, DW.Va. Senator Joe Manchin has feared that his friendly Republican colleagues will once again rally around Trump.
“I couldn’t believe it. I can’t believe it,” said the retired senator. “These are people I know, people I respect, people I consider friends – basically to sell your soul.”