Different State, Same Problem: Ayotte & Rubio (Still) Refuse to Stand Up to Trump

Kelly Ayotte refuses to say if she trusts Trump with nuclear codes, but supports him for President

Marco Rubio stands by his assertion that Trump’s a “con man,” but supports him for President

While more Republican national security experts, party leaders and public officials speak out against Donald Trump each passing day, Kelly Ayotte and Marco Rubio continue to make fools of themselves as they try to justify their continued support of their party’s divisive and hateful nominee.

In just the past 24 hours, Kelly Ayotte wouldn’t say whether or not she trusts Donald Trump with the nuclear codes and Marco Rubio stood by his statement that Donald Trump is a “con man,” all while both reiterated that they would vote for Donald Trump as our nation’s next commander-in-chief.

The facts are that there is nothing Donald Trump can say or do that will make these vulnerable U.S. Senators stand up to him and rescind their support. And that’s why they can both expect more clips like these:

NEW HAMPSHIRE:

CNN: Ayotte: I will stand up to Trump but will vote for him

And giving Democrats fodder, Ayotte refused to say twice if she trusted Trump having his finger on the nuclear codes, launching into a criticism of President Barack Obama and saying Congress would be able to stand up to a President Trump. “I think, again, we have a system, a strong system, of checks and balances,” Ayotte said. “Certainly when he is elected, if he is elected, I would hope that he will surround himself with very knowledgeable people.”

AP: Trump casts long shadow in NH Senate race

“She’s trying to play this game,” said the retired teacher, who supported Ohio Gov. John Kasich in the GOP presidential primary. He said he would not vote for Ayotte or Trump this fall.

“She’s going to vote for him and support him but not endorse him?” Lloyd asked. “I don’t know what the difference is.”

…

The senator, a prominent voice on national security issues, would not say whether she trusted Trump with the codes to the nation’s nuclear arsenal. Instead, she noted Congress’ oversight role.

The Hill: GOP senator: I’ll vote for Trump, but won’t endorse him

Endangered New Hampshire Sen. Kelly Ayotte (R) says that though she can “work with anyone,” she will vote for Donald Trump for president. “While he has my vote, he doesn’t have my endorsement,” Ayotte told CNN’s Manu Raju Monday. ”

FLORIDA:

Miami Herald: Rubio stands by calling Trump ‘con man,’ but still backs him

In the heat of the Republican presidential primary, Marco Rubio called Donald Trump a “con man.” And he doesn’t take it back. “I’ve stood by everything I ever said in my campaign,” Rubio told the Miami Herald editorial board Monday. But Rubio still supports Trump for president. In fact, Rubio insists, Trump is partly why he reversed himself and chose to run for the U.S. Senate again.

MSNBC: Marco Rubio’s line on Trump still needs work

The GOP senator has had multiple opportunities to walk all of this back, and chalk it up to overheated campaign rhetoric, but Rubio doesn’t want to do that. On the contrary, he keeps saying that he “stands by everything” he said while condemning Trump’s fitness for office. And in the next breath, Rubio also says he supports Trump’s presidential candidacy. He doesn’t seem to appreciate how foolish this sounds …The senator has had months to come up with a clear explanation for his position on Trump. Is this really the best he can do?

Talking Points Memo: Rubio Stands By Claim That Trump Is A ‘Con Man’, Still Supports Him

In the final weeks of his 2016 presidential run, Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) threw every insult in the book at Donald Trump, calling him a litigious, “orange” “con man.” The Florida senator said Monday that he will not retract those comments, even though he is now supporting Trump’s campaign.

CNN: Marco Rubio stands by calling Trump a ‘con artist,’ still supports him

Florida Sen. Marco Rubio is standing by his description of Donald Trump as “a con artist,” but he says in a new interview he still plans to support the real estate mogul for president. “I’ve stood by everything I ever said in my campaign,” Rubio told the Miami Herald editorial board Monday when asked about his comments made during the Republican presidential primary earlier this year….Rubio previously told CNN earlier this year that he apologized to Trump for one of his comments: About the size of Trump’s hands. “I apologized to him for that,” Rubio told CNN’s Jake Tapper on “State of the Union.” “I said, ‘You know, I’m sorry that I said that. It’s not who I am and I shouldn’t have done it.'”