The Republican members of West Virginia’s Congressional delegation are sticking with Donald Trump. The release last week of the video tape from 2005 where Trump bragged about groping women has caused some Republicans to withdraw their support, but not here.
A report this week by Roll Call said 53 Republican members of Congress had publicly declared their opposition to Trump, 13 before the video and another 40 afterward. The story was filed prior to new groping allegations reported by the New York Times. Trump calls those allegations “totally false.”
The leader of the West Virginia delegation, Senator Shelley Moore Capito, came out forcefully after the video tape. “As a woman, a mother and a grandmother to three young girls, I am deeply offended by Mr. Trump’s remarks, and there is no excuse for the disgusting and demeaning language.” Capito said Trump may have to “reexamine his candidacy.”
However during an appearance on Talkline Thursday, Capito said she still backs Trump for President. “If I look at my alternative, which is Hillary Clinton and her promise to put coal miners out of work, I just see what further damage that would do to our already struggling economy and I can’t go there,” Capito said.
“Am I swallowing hard here because of his statements? Absolute, absolutely, but the choices aren’t good, they’re not perfect,” she said. “So I’m going to go ahead and support our Republican nominee.
West Virginia 1st District Congressman David McKinley also criticized Trump’s comments as demeaning and distasteful. “It’s now incumbent on him to show remorse and prove to the American people these comments don’t reflect his true values, he said. However, according to a spokesman, McKinley “is still voting for Trump.”
Second District Congressman Alex Mooney remains firmly behind Trump, even after House of Representatives Speaker Paul Ryan held a conference call with his caucus Monday where he told House Republicans he was pulling back his support.
A Mooney campaign spokesman said, “The Congressman has not changed his position and he does not take instructions from leadership on this matter. He follows his conscience and the people of West Virginia, so yes, our Trump-Mooney signs are staying up.”
Third District Congressman Evan Jenkins completes the sweep. His southern West Virginia district is expected to go heavily for Trump, especially after Clinton’s coal comments and Jenkins remains committed to the nominee.
The Republican Party has split over Trump, and when a divide occurs people have to choose up sides. West Virginia’s delegation has reaffirmed that it’s all in with Trump.