Bob Dole, the 1996 GOP presidential nominee, said he is sticking by Donald Trump Donald John TrumpOmar fires back at Trump over rally remarks: 'This is my country' Pelosi: Trump hurrying to fill SCOTUS seat so he can repeal ObamaCare Trump mocks Biden appearance, mask use ahead of first debate MORE, the current Republican nominee.

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Dole, a former senator from Kansas, told The Wall Street Journal he would be hard-pressed to back away from the party’s nominee in the wake of Trump’s lewd talk about women caught on tape.

“I look at it a little differently,” Dole said. “I’ve been a Republican forever. The party has been very good to me. I’ve had many opportunities as a Republican, and I find it very difficult to desert the party after Trump won 40 percent of the vote in the primary.”

Dole is now the only former GOP nominee who backs Trump — Mitt Romney has been a steadfast critic of the billionaire, and Sen. John McCain John Sidney McCainCindy McCain endorses Biden: He's only candidate 'who stands up for our values' Biden says Cindy McCain will endorse him Biden's six best bets in 2016 Trump states MORE (Ariz.) rescinded his support Saturday. Both George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush have stayed silent on the 2016 race.

“It was 11 years ago,” Dole said of Trump's explicit comments. “He shouldn’t have said it, but there’s nothing he can do about it except to do well in the debate. I think he can overcome a lot of this in the debate tomorrow night.”

“The Clintons aren’t pure either,” Dole added.