Dan Horn, Chrissie Thompson, and Deirdre Shesgreen

Cincinnati

Greater Cincinnati Republicans decried Donald Trump’s recently-released comments about women and his behavior toward them as “idiotic,” “disgusting” and “sad,” but most said Saturday they still support him for president.

No one defended Trump’s comments – which included foul language, a boast of kissing without getting consent and a reference to grabbing female genitalia – and all said they found the remarks offensive.

The GOP presidential nominee’s comments were captured on videotape in 2005 before he taped a guest appearance on a TV soap opera.

“Revolting,” said U.S. Rep. Brad Wenstrup, R-Columbia Tusculum.

“Disgusting,” said Andrew Pappas, a Republican Anderson Township trustee and commissioner candidate.

“Never acceptable,” said U.S. Rep. Steve Chabot, R-Westwood.

“These are just idiotic comments,” said Greg Hartmann, a Republican and former Hamilton County commissioner.

The criticism mirrored that of prominent national and state Republicans, who blasted Trump and lamented the harm his words could do to the GOP and its candidates in next month’s election.

But as they have in the past when Trump said inflammatory things about race, women or people with disabilities, many GOP party leaders stood by their nominee.

Late Saturday night, U.S. Sen. Rob Portman, of Terrace Park, became the lone Southwest Ohio exception.

Portman originally called the comments "offensive and wrong," but said Trump was "right to apologize." More than 24 hours later, he changed his mind, without saying why.

"I had hoped to support the candidate my party nominated in the primary process. I thought it was appropriate to respect the millions of voters across the country who chose Donald Trump as the Republican Party nominee. While I continue to respect those who still support Donald Trump, I can no longer support him," he said in a statement. He said he would cast his ballot for Trump's vice presidential nominee, Indiana Gov. Mike Pence, apparently via a write-in vote.

Rob Portman: 'I can no longer support' Donald Trump

Local Republicans said their reasons for continuing to back Trump go beyond their personal feelings toward him. To them, he still represents their party and its ideals, even if his words sometimes don’t.

He also isn’t Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton, who local GOP leadership and candidates still regard as a worse option.

“You can’t defend the indefensible,” Pappas said of Trump’s comments. “But I still think his ideas for the economy, for the Supreme Court and for the country in general are far superior to Hillary Clinton’s.”

Hamilton County GOP Chairman Alex Triantafilou spent Saturday morning rallying Republican volunteers on the east and west side to support candidates up and down the ballot, including Trump.

He said Trump’s comments won’t alter his support for the presidential nominee.

“I’m disappointed. There’s no defending it, from my view,” Triantafilou said. “My job is to get candidates elected from the top of the ticket to the bottom, so we’re going to keep working. And we’re going to keep helping Donald Trump, too.”

He said he has accepted Trump’s apology, in which the presidential candidate described his words as “locker room banter” and said he was sorry “if anyone was offended.”

Chabot said it’s up to Trump to convince Americans to accept his apology before Election Day.

Donald Trump, Ohio & the GOP meltdown

Democrats wasted little time lambasting local Republicans for their continued support of Trump. Chabot’s opponent, Michele Young, said Chabot and others should not continue to stand by a man who repeatedly makes insulting and inflammatory comments.

“We deserve more from our leaders,” she said. “Respect for women is not optional.”

Some prominent Cincinnati-area Republicans did not return calls seeking comment about Trump, including Hamilton County Prosecutor Joe Deters and his brother, Hamilton County Commissioner Dennis Deters.

Tracy Winkler, Hamilton County’s clerk of courts, said she’s decided it’s best not to talk about Trump at all.

“I’m staying out of it,” she said.

Hartmann, who spoke out against Trump during the GOP primary but later endorsed him, said he’s worried about the impact Trump’s comments could have on Republicans in other races in the election.

“It’s horrible we’re being represented by someone who would say something like that,” Hartmann said. “I’m really looking forward to it being over.”