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150 Republican Leaders Withdraw Support for Trump | ASHARQ AL-AWSAT English Archive 2005 -2017
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Republican U.S. presidential nominee Donald Trump and Democratic U.S. presidential nominee Hillary Clinton speak during their presidential town hall debate at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, U.S., October 9, 2016. REUTERS/Jim Young


Washington – Few hours before the second presidential debate, Republican candidate Donald Trump finds himself in the hot spot again facing his Democrat opponent Hillary Clinton after a disastrous weekend.

Contrary to all the previous scandals, criticism against Trump’s recording didn’t stop this time. About 150 of the major Republicans withdrew their support of Trump, according to New York Times. Former supporters of Trump include: John McCain, Mitt Romney, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

U.S. Senator John McCain released a statement withdrawing his support of Donald Trump.

“I have wanted to support the candidate our party nominated. He was not my choice, but as a past nominee, I thought it was important I respect the fact that Donald Trump won a majority of the delegates by the rules our party set. I thought I owed his supporters that deference. But Donald Trump’s behavior this week, concluding with the disclosure of his demeaning comments about women and his boasts about sexual assaults, make it impossible to continue to offer even conditional support for his candidacy,” stated McCain.

Despite several calls for withdrawal, Trump ensures that he will not withdraw, and when asked by reports whether he would stay in the race, Trump said: “Hundred percent.”

One of Trump’s advisers, Rudolph Giuliani confirmed that he will stay in the race.

“There is nothing that will cause his dropping out,” Giuliani said. “That is wishful thinking of the Clinton campaign and those who have opposed him for a long time.”

Clinton will try to convince voters that she has what it takes to become a president, while Trump will try to overcome the crisis after a recording of his was leaked during which he made offensive remarks about females.

NBC recorded Trump in 2005 making insulting comments about women which grew a wave of condemnation.

In 2002, Trump said he’d check out of a relationship with women after they turn 35. “What is it at 35? It’s called check-out time,” Trump commented.

It is still unclear now whether major Republicans will retreat their rejection for Trump while news websites revealed that the Republican National Committee (RNC) lawyers are examining the possibility of putting forth another nominee one month from Election Day.

Politico and Quartz websites informed sources of the RNC saying that the lawyers had determined 48 hours to change the party’s strategy. He added that RNC has an army of lawyers right now looking at Rule 9 and ballot questions. The RNC’s Rule 9 pertains to filling vacant nominations.

But the lawyers have concluded that Trump would have to cooperate in any attempt to replace him, as Trump declared he is not planning on either quitting or dying to be replaced.

Steve Vladeck, a legal expert and professor at the University of Texas School of Law, the reality is that early voting means the ballots have already been locked in

“The only real scenario is Trump saying he’ll resign the second he’s inaugurated — at which point voters will think that a vote for him is really a vote for Pence,” Vladeck said.

House Speaker Paul D. Ryan said he was “sickened” by Trump’s behavior, while Republican Vice Presidential Candidate Mike Pence distanced himself from Trump saying: “I do not condone his remarks and cannot defend them,” Pence said.

Donald Trump’s wife, Melania, released a statement urging Americans to excuse her husband.

“The words my husband used are unacceptable and offensive to me. This does not represent the man that I know. He has the heart and mind of a leader. I hope people will accept his apology, as I have, and focus on the important issues facing our nation and the world,” Trump said.

Head of Center for Politics at University of Virginia, Larry Sabato tweeted that “Trump has done well enough to stop GOP bleeding.”

“Trump’s campaign is thrilled. And of course, Democrats are very pleased. They were worried he might be pushed out and they’d get a stronger candidate,” added Sabato.