Danforth, who was in the Senate for almost 20 years from the mid-1970s through the mid-90s, has functioned since as a political mentor to other Missouri Republicans, including Hawley, the state’s new attorney general. Danforth’s enthusiasm for a possible Hawley Senate run likely helped clear the field of some serious potential Republican challengers like U.S. Reps. Ann Wagner and Vicky Hartzler.

Danforth on Friday declined to say he was pressing Hawley to repudiate Trump because of his remarks in the aftermath of this month’s violence in Charlottesville, Va., and other issues.

“I’m not singling out particular people. I’m making a broader point than that,” Danforth said. “I think it’s very important to make it clear to the public that Donald Trump is not like us.”

Hawley’s state office and campaign representatives didn’t respond to multiple requests Friday seeking reaction to Danforth’s condemnation of the president.

Hawley hasn’t formally declared his intention to seek the GOP nomination to challenge McCaskill, the Democratic Senate incumbent, but he has set up an exploratory committee. McCaskill is a top target of national Republicans, in part because Trump won Missouri by almost 20 percentage points .