Bill Glauber, and Jacob Carpenter

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Elkhorn — The Republican Party's crisis reverberated across the country Saturday, as Donald Trump vowed to remain in the race, several top leaders told him to get out, and House Speaker Paul Ryan sought to focus attention on the stakes of the election.

All the turmoil facing the party in the wake of the emergence of a 2005 video — where Trump is heard making crude comments about groping and sexually harassing women — could be felt at the Walworth County Fairgrounds.

Trump's invitation to come here for a unity event was withdrawn by Ryan, who rebuked the nominee in a withering statement Friday.

Vice presidential nominee Mike Pence, penciled in to appear, also stayed away, and in his own statement Saturday scolded his running mate, saying he was "offended by the words and actions" from the Trump video.

"I do not condone his remarks and I cannot defend them," Pence said. "I am grateful that he has expressed remorse and apologized to the American people."

It was left to Ryan, the final speaker at the 1st Congressional District Fall Fest, to put it all in perspective.

"There is a bit of an elephant in this room," Ryan said, standing on a stage backed by two American flags, decorated with pumpkins, and flanked with hay bales and tractors.

"It's a troubling situation. I'm serious, it is," Ryan said. "I meant what I said and it is still how I feel, but that is not what we're here to talk about today."

First Trump-Ryan appearance derailed by Trump tape

There were 10 speakers, including emcee Jay Weber of WISN-AM (1300), and Trump's name was only mentioned three times.

Ryan and others, including Gov. Scott Walker and Republican U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson, sought to focus on GOP policy and election prospects up and down the ballot. But the message was overshadowed by the party's standard bearer finding himself under siege. Trump's brief apology, issued late Friday, appeared to only add to his woes.

Bill Clinton heckled during rally

In interviews and a tweet, Trump said he was staying in the race. "I have tremendous support," he told the Washington Post.

Melania Trump said the words her husband used in the 2005 video were "unacceptable and offensive to me," but said she hoped people would accept his apology, as she had.

Trump's support within the party's hierarchy appeared to be collapsing, with several senators, governors and House members calling on him to quit the race. U.S. Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), the party's 2008 nominee, withdrew his support from Trump.

The top Wisconsin Republicans who have backed Trump — Ryan, Walker and Johnson — have not withdrawn their support but have condemned his comments. The three politicians were not available to take questions here.

The scene at the event was pure American, a beautiful autumn day with voters eating pulled pork and later gathering by the stage for speeches. Several people in the crowd were upset by the lack of acknowledgement of Trump. At one point, U.S. Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner exchanged words with a heckler.

In an interview, Attorney General Brad Schimel called Trump's comments "indefensible."

"He's going to have to apologize and get to work and focus on real issues here," he said. "I don't know if he can leave that behind."

Asked if Trump should leave the ticket, Schimel said: "I don't know. That's way beyond my pay grade."

Brad Courtney, chairman of the state Republican Party, said he remained intent on recruiting volunteers and putting together a ground operation for the election.

"I am focused on winning Wisconsin," he said, ticking off a series of races.

Trump supporters said they were sticking with their candidate, despite the controversy.

Elkhorn resident Shelly Nettesheim, who donned a T-shirt reading "Deplorable Lives Matter," chalked up Trump's absence as a missed opportunity in a swing state.

"That's sort of disappointing in a crowd of this size with the election just weeks away," said Nettesheim, a branch manager at a staffing firm. "I don't think (Ryan) had any choice, but it would have been a big deal for our little community to have Donald Trump here."

Nik Rettinger, a member of the Republican Party of Waukesha County, praised the event's organizers for moving forward and pushing a conservative message, even if it meant skipping over virtually any mention of the top of the ticket.

"I think that with the suddenness of what came out, there needs to be some time to digest all of it," said Rettinger.

Jennifer Holter, a retired city government supervisor, said Trump's comments mattered to her, but they won't be enough for her to switch to Democratic Party nominee Hillary Clinton. Holter said she's concerned that Clinton will have the opportunity to appoint multiple U.S. Supreme Court justices and select liberal-leaning jurists.

"I will say it impacted (my view of Trump), but I don't think it will change it, because I look at what the alternative is: another Ruth Bader Ginsburg on the court," said Holter.

Trump supporter and Brodhead resident Lavonne Drake said she believed Trump's chances to win were "pretty good until yesterday." She argued that too much has been made of Trump's "potty-mouth," adding "we know that he's kind of that way."

"He's not perfect, he has a lot of character flaws, but I don't think they even compare to Hillary Clinton's," Drake said. "I hope sincerely that the women of this country take a look at the true character of the people and see there are flaws in both."