Many Republican candidates are skipping President Donald Trump’s midterm convention in Dallas next week or seriously thinking about it, Politico reported Wednesday.
Most of the 70 GOP candidates and “members” interviewed are taking that approach, according to the website. In addition, 45 mentioned previous obligations in their district, personal occasions, and the five-figure entry fees as reasons they’re staying home from the Trump-headlining rally to raise support and cash to prevent a Democratic takeover.
“I can’t control what the president’s going to say at the convention, but I can control where I’m at, what I’m doing,” Rep. Tom Barrett (R-Mich.) told the outlet.
One unnamed GOP House member took a far less diplomatic view. “A waste of time” and “a mess” was how they described it.
Reps. Zach Nunn (R-Iowa) and Nick LaLota (R-N.Y.) confirmed to Politico they’ll be no-shows for Trump’s to-do, and Rep. Rob Bresnahan (R-Pa.) was reportedly out as well. All are running for reelection in November.
Wednesday and Thursday’s convention at the American Airlines Center in Dallas is also conflicting with the first two games of the NFL season. While neither matchup involves the Dallas Cowboys or Houston Texans, Texas is still football-crazy.
“No, he is not,” she replied. “And that was an error that some people around him privately acknowledge was something they had not been paying attention to.”
Throw in a war against Iran with no end in sight and a reignited trade conflict with Canada ― it’s no wonder many Republicans might not want Trump on their team at a convention.