Republicans in the House of Representatives are finding that they must address the Donald Trump effect on their reelections.
Their solution on the polarizing candidate, according to
Politico, is to keep their focus on their local issues
— and focus on Trump as little as they can.
In fact, some would not even mention Trump's name, reports Politico.
"I'm focused on one race. I'm focused on one race alone," said Rep. Robert Dold, R-Ill.
House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., has said Trump may encourage new voters to come in to vote for him, but he is also encouraging current lawmakers to focus locally and ignore Trump.
First-term Rep. Mike Bishop, R-Mich., said he hopes Trump will "be presidential and I won't have to defend his words."
Democrats believe that a Trump nomination could put many lawmakers' seats up for grabs unless they distance themselves from Trump.
Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Chairman Ben Ray Lujan said on
CNN's "New Day" program the battle between Trump and Cruz is "better for Democrats up and down the ballot and bad for House Republicans."
Democrats have pointed to four races where Trump might do the most harm: California, Colorado, Pennsylvania, and South Florida.
Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Democratic National Committee chairwoman, said House GOP members must answer "uncomfortable questions," such as from Carlos Curbelo in South Florida: "Does he think Mexicans are rapists and drug dealers?"
Curbelo told the radio show
"Here & Now" he would support a third-party candidate over Trump.
On the other hand, Dave Sackett of the Tarrance Group told GOP lawmakers that his polling revealed Ted Cruz would do the most harm to lawmakers seeking re-election, according to
Politico.
Trump has only a few supporters in Congress, recently including Reps. Tom Reed of New York and Renee Ellmers of North Carolina, and Sen. Jeff Sessions of Alabama.
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