But for members of the party now on record supporting Trump, there is no backing away.
“I’ve said everything I can say about Trump. I really have. … I’m running my own campaign, and I just don’t really want to keep talking about Trump. I just don’t,” said Sen. John McCain of Arizona, preparing to face Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick (D-Ariz.) this fall. “His comments are very harmful, and that’s all I can say.”
“I felt that his comments were wrong and offensive, and I’ve urged him to retract them,” said Sen. Kelly Ayotte (R-N.H.), who is running for reelection against Maggie Hassan, her state’s Democratic governor. “I’m running my race and focusing on the people of New Hampshire. I’ve said he’s our nominee; I plan to vote for him, but I’m not endorsing.”
Ayotte did not comment when asked whether she shares McCain’s dim view of being asked questions about Trump. But it’s clear that Trump singling out Curiel’s ethnicity as an “absolute conflict” in the judge’s handling of a Trump University case has sparked another bout of Trump fatigue in the Capitol — and this after a weeklong recess.
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