Trump is fighting a thick fog of criticism over vulgar comments, Clinton's on defense against a Wikileaks dump and the town hall format may present challenges for both. Here's what we're watching.
by Michael Olson, MPR Newsvia MPR News10/9/2016 1:43:22 PM
"Paul Ryan rally kicks off without Trump - or Pence," by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel's Bill Glauber and Jacob Carpenter: "'There is a bit of an elephant in this room,' House Speaker Paul Ryan of Janesville told the crowd. 'It's a troubling situation, I'm serious, it is,' Ryan said ... 'I meant what I said and it is still how I feel ... But that is not what we're here to talk about today.'" bit.ly
by Michael Olson, MPR Newsvia MPR News10/9/2016 3:41:12 AM
by Nicholas Thompsonvia twitter10/8/2016 10:50:30 PM
POLITICO: Trump told Howard Stern it's OK to call Ivanka a 'piece of a--'
Donald Trump told radio host Howard Stern in 2004 that it was okay for the shock jock to refer to the Manhattan billionaire’s daughter Ivanka Trump as “a piece of a--.”
The exchange was uncovered by CNN, which published that clip and others on Saturday from Stern’s radio show.
Several of Minnesota's top Republicans have withdrawn their support for Donald Trump, after video surfaced of the GOP presidential nominee making vulgar, sexually charged comments about women.
by Michael Olson, MPR Newsvia MPR News10/8/2016 9:04:35 PM
Rep. Erik Paulsen joins a tide of Republicans who have denounced Trump and say they won't vote for him in November.
"For months I have said Donald Trump has not earned my vote. The disgusting statements revealed last night make it clear he cannot. I will not be voting for him. Both of the major candidates for President are deeply flawed. Irrespective of who is elected President, it is clear that the country needs a strong co-equal branch of government. And Congress needs to hold the executive branch accountable. I have a solid record of working in a bipartisan way for the Third District and for Minnesota and I will continue to work across the aisle to get important things done." Paulsen said in a news release.
by Michael Olson, MPR Newsvia MPR News10/8/2016 7:20:40 PM
Minnesota's highest elected Republican is joining a growing list of his party across the nation by saying Trump isn't fit to serve in the Oval Office. "Donald Trump's behavior and comments toward women are unacceptable, and disqualifying for someone who hopes to serve as Commander In Chief," Rep. Kurt Daudt said in a news release.
"I believe Minnesotans and Americans are looking for strong conservative leadership that can unite our country, but it's clear that Donald Trump cannot and will not provide that leadership and necessary contrast with the far-left vision of Hillary Clinton," Daudt continued.
"I strongly urge his campaign to consider what's best for the future of our country and our party, and step aside so we can defeat Hillary Clinton."
by Michael Olson, MPR Newsvia MPR News10/8/2016 6:43:42 PM
Trump becomes issue in Minnesota's 2nd Congressional District
Donald Trump's comments about his sexual exploits with women are "clearly wrong, vile and indefensible," wrote Republican candidate Jason Lewis who is running for election in Minnnesota's 2nd Congressional District.
His opponent, DFL candidate Angie Craig, is calling on Lewis to join other Republicans who are dropping their support for Donald Trump.
“Enough is enough,” said Craig in an email release. “The tough talk brand is politically convenient for Jason—he said last year that Trump is 'saying some of these things that nobody else seems to have the guts to say, except me.’ If Donald Trump’s offensive statements about immigrants, veterans, and people of color weren’t enough to make Jason reconsider his praise for Trump, these comments likely won’t change his mind. But in the interest of decency, it’s time for Jason to finally denounce Trump.”
by Michael Olson, MPR Newsvia MPR News10/8/2016 6:29:23 PM
Ohio Gov. John Kasich says he can no longer support Donald Trump.
The Republican governor and former Trump rival had pledged to support his party's nominee during the primary campaign. He said Saturday Trump "is a man I cannot and should not support."
Kasich called Trump's comments captured in a video "disgusting." But he says that's not why he reached his decision.
He said, "I will not vote for a nominee who has behaved in a manner that reflects so poorly on our country."
Kasich becomes the second sitting Republican governor to withdraw support for Trump. Utah Gov. Gary Herbert did the same on Friday.
--AP
by Michael Olson, MPR Newsvia MPR News10/8/2016 6:01:14 PM
Amid calls for Donald Trump to step aside, the candidate says he'd "never withdraw." The calls to drop out come after a leaked recording of Trump has him talking about kissing and groping women.
by Michael Olson, MPR Newsvia MPR News10/8/2016 5:50:10 PM
Republicans who have called for Trump to be replaced as the GOP nominee
POLITICO has a running tally:
Kelly Ayotte Bradley Byrne Mike Coffman Barbara Comstock Mike Crapo Dennis Daugaard Rob Engstrom Carly Fiorina Jeff Flake Scott Garrett Hugh Hewitt Jon Huntsman Mark Kirk Bill Kristol Mike Lee Mia Love George Pataki Martha Roby Ben Sasse A.J. Spiker Chris Stewart John Thune
Pence says in a statement Saturday: "As a husband and a father, I was offended by the words and actions described by Donald Trump in the 11-year-old video released yesterday. I do not condone his remarks and cannot defend them. I am grateful that he has expressed remorse and apologized to the American people."
He continues: "We pray for his family and look forward to the opportunity he has to show what is in his heart when he goes before the nation tomorrow night."
--AP
by Michael Olson, MPR Newsvia MPR News10/8/2016 5:25:34 PM
Republican vice presidential nominee Mike Pence will not attend a scheduled campaign rally in Wisconsin with House Speaker Paul Ryan.
That's according to a GOP official with knowledge of Pence's plans who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to release such details.
Trump and Pence were both scheduled to attend Saturday's event, but Trump bailed out late Friday as bipartisan condemnation rained down on him over his recorded vulgarities toward women.
It was unclear whether Pence would attend a private fundraiser in Rhode Island later Saturday.
Pence has been silent on the release of the 12-year-old recording, in which Trump describes his own aggressive treatment of women.
--AP
by Michael Olson, MPR Newsvia MPR News10/8/2016 5:00:09 PM
New Hampshire Sen. Kelly Ayotte, South Dakota Sen. John Thune and Idaho Senator Mike Crapo say they will no longer support Donald Trump. They said they will instead support vice presidential running mate Mike Pence for president.
Ayotte says in statement that she cannot support a presidential candidate "who brags about degrading and assaulting women."
Crapo sent a tweet that urged Trump "to step aside."
Thune wrote that Pence should be the GOP nominee "effective immediately."
For his part, Pence said that he was "offended" by the remarks and is pleased that Trump has apologized.
Ayotte is in one of the nation's closest Senate contests. Her opponent, Gov. Maggie Hassan, has tied her to Trump at event turn.
Ayotte's been widely panned for her dance around Trump. She'd said she would support but not endorse him and recently backed off comments that Trump is a role model.
Former candidate Carly Fiorina joined the chorus of GOP leaders seeking and wrote on her Facebook page that Trump should "step aside and for the RNC to replace him with Pence."Donald Trump says he will not quit the presidential race.
Trump Republican presidential nominee told The Washington Post on Saturday morning, "I'd never withdraw. I've never withdrawn in my life."
He also told The Wall Street Journal there was "zero chance I'll quit."
Trump said he's been getting calls of support after a video tape surfaced Friday that captured him making vulgar and sexually charged comments about women.
--AP
by Michael Olson, MPR Newsvia MPR News10/8/2016 4:35:05 PM
Ohio Republican Party Chairman Matt Borges says there will be no punishment for state GOP officials who drop their support of Donald Trump over his crude comments about women.
Asked whether the revelations were a fatal blow to Trump's electoral prospects, Borges said, "The debate tomorrow is now everything."
Borges was a supporter of Ohio Gov. John Kasich in the primary but has helped Trump during the general election.
Borges would not say whether he plans to drop his support for the nominee. But he said his "wife looks like the smartest person in America right now. She wouldn't let me put a Donald Trump sign in my yard."
Ohio is a must-win state for Trump in the November election.
by Michael Olson, MPR Newsvia MPR News10/8/2016 3:21:48 PM
Hillary Clinton told bankers behind closed doors that she favored "open trade and open borders" and said Wall Street executives were best-positioned to help reform the U.S. financial sector.
by Michael Olson, MPR Newsvia MPR News10/8/2016 3:09:47 PM
Trump bragged about kissing, groping and trying to have sex with women who were not his wife on audio and video recordings obtained by The Washington Post and NBC News.
by Michael Olson, MPR Newsvia MPR News10/7/2016 11:01:11 PM
