Also Read
Corker, Fleischmann still endorsing Trump
Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam's call Sunday for Donald Trump to drop out of the presidential race was met by a resounding silence from most other prominent state Republicans.
Haslam has never endorsed Trump, and after the firestorm sparked by a 2005 videotape of Trump talking crudely about women, Haslam called on him to "step aside and let [Trump running mate] Gov. Mike Pence assume the role as the party's nominee."
"I want to emphasize that character in our leaders does matter," Haslam said in a statement. "None of us in elected office are perfect, but the decisions that are made in the Oval Office have too many consequences to ignore the behavior we have seen."
Haslam spoke a day after Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley withdrew his support for Trump. According to media reports, 150 Republicans had disavowed Trump as their nominee as of Sunday. But Haslam was a lone GOP voice in a state where a Vanderbilt poll last week put Trump 11 points ahead of Hillary Clinton.
U.S. Sen. Bob Corker, who on Saturday condemned Trump's remarks but didn't withdraw his endorsement, did not issue any new statement Sunday. U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander also had nothing to say. His staff said he was out of the country.
U.S. Rep. Scott DesJarlais, one of the first to back Trump, did not respond to requests for comment Saturday or Sunday and made no reference to the video fracas on social media. U.S. Rep. Chuck Fleischmann made a statement Saturday condemning Trump's comments but did not withdraw his endorsement.
The Tennessean reported U.S. Reps. Diane Black and Marsha Blackburn, both Trump supporters, were silent as well.
Tennessee Republican Party Chairman Ryan Haynes on Saturday called Trump's comments "absolutely repulsive." Asked Sunday for comment after Haslam spoke, Haynes said in an emailed statement:
"Feelings are strong in this election and interest is high. The focus of the Tennessee Republican Party remains on advancing the conservative cause in our state over the remaining 30 days. At the same time, the media spotlight has revealed major flaws in both candidates. There is justifiable concern about the repugnant words of one and the appalling record of deception of the other. Every voter has a choice to make. At the end of the day, everyone should follow their convictions and no one should be criticized for doing so."
Tennessee Democrats, though, were having a field day, with Chairman Mary Mancini calling on "all State Republican lawmakers and candidates to make clear to the public if they still support Donald Trump."
"Tennesseans deserve to know if state Republicans stand with a man whose bad character is so clearly on display and who believes that women are his to do with as he pleases," Mancini said.
"Once again Tennessee Republicans are hoping that by keeping silent they won't have to acknowledge the disturbing words and actions of a fellow Republican. It's only when we push to hold them accountable do they even acknowledge that a problem exists. When will Tennessee's Republicans finally take a stand?"