Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Portman Pulls Endorsement Of Trump After Leaked Audio

Andy Chow
Republican Presidential Nominee Donald Trump; U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-Ohio)

For months U.S. Senator Rob Portman has admonished different controversial statements made by Republican Presidential Nominee Donald Trump. However, Portman stayed by his endorsement of Trump each time. But the leaked audio in which Trump describes obscene acts has changed all that.

In June, Portman chided Trump for his comments about a federal judge of Mexican American descent, saying that while he criticizes Trump's character, he agrees with his policies. 

“Ultimately, what you’re trying to do is elect a president who can help get the country back on track in terms of the economic growth, the opportunity, protect the country. And so you have to look at those policy issues of course,” said Portman in June.

Portman made similar statements after Trump verbally attacked the family of a fallen soldier.

But the audio in which Trump talks about being able to sexually assault women because of his notoriety proved to be too much for Portman. He first noted the fact that Trump apologized for the comments, but Saturday eveningPortman announced he won't vote for Trump and will write-in Trump’s running mate Mike Pence instead.

Portman is in a comfortable place politically to pull his endorsement of Trump, he leads Democratic former Gov. Ted Strickland by double digits in the polls with just a month before the election.

Contact Andy at achow@statehousenews.org.
Related Content