Republicans in 24-Plus Statewide Debates Distance Themselves From Trump as Democrats Press Loyalty Attacks
Updated
Updated · POLITICO · Oct 22
Republicans in 24-Plus Statewide Debates Distance Themselves From Trump as Democrats Press Loyalty Attacks
3 articles · Updated · POLITICO · Oct 22
Summary
More than two dozen statewide debates showed Republicans, especially in blue states, trying to separate themselves from President Donald Trump less than two weeks before Election Day.
Democrats made Trump loyalty a central line of attack, pressing GOP opponents on whether they backed the president on issues including the Iran war, trade and immigration.
John Sununu in New Hampshire said he had “never met President Trump” and criticized Trump’s positions on trade, Iran and Ukraine, while Minnesota’s Michelle Tafoya broke with his tariff and immigration policies.
The exchanges underscored a broader GOP balancing act: keeping Republican voters while avoiding tighter identification with an unpopular president in competitive statewide races.