North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory—who may have noted this week an untimely end to the political career of Trump-backed Rep. Renee Ellmers—is following the lead of nearly every vulnerable Republican in the nation: dodging a full-on Trump endorsement. Trump's the nominee, McCrory notes, which apparently absolves him of the responsibility to condemn his racist rants, reports Colin Campbell:

McCrory this week said he’s supporting Trump because “I’ve said I would support the Republican nominee.” The governor has not directly addressed Trump’s comments about the judge.

“Our governor keeps just supporting Trump and buddying up with him and not even saying ‘those are terrible comments, he should not have made them,’” said Patsy Keever, chairwoman of the N.C. Democratic Party. “We don’t all like everything about whatever candidates we’re supporting, but when they do something as bad as what Trump has done, I think it behooves him to acknowledge those things are not OK.”

McCrory campaign spokesman Ricky Diaz responded to the criticism in an email. “Mr. Trump does not speak for the governor and the governor does not speak for Mr. Trump,” Diaz said. “The governor does not condone disparaging comments against anyone...”