Sen. John McCain, the 2008 Republican presidential nominee, has withdrawn his support of Donald Trump after a tape revealing his lewd and vulgar remarks about women was released yesterday.
“I have wanted to support the candidate our party nominated,” said McCain in a statement. “He was not my choice, but as a past nominee, I thought it important I respect the fact that Donald Trump won a majority of the delegates by the rules our party set. I thought I owed his supporters that deference. But Donald Trump’s behavior this week, concluding with the disclosure of his demeaning comments about women and his boasts about sexual assaults, make it impossible to continue to offer even conditional support for his candidacy.”
McCain says his wife supports his decision.
“Cindy, with her strong background in human rights and respect for women, fully agrees with me in this,” said McCain.
It’s unprecedented in modern history. McCain joins the last two Republican presidents, George H. W. Bush and George W. Bush, and the last Republican nominee Mitt Romney in not supporting the current GOP nominee.
The elder Bush is voting for Hillary Clinton, while George W. Bush, Romney and McCain all plan to vote for a third party.
The fallout from Trump’s lewd comments continues with just 30 days to go until the election.
This morning, Sen. Kelly Ayotte, Sen. Mike Crapo and Joe Heck, a Republican running in Nevada, withdrew their support of Trump. Sen. John Thune of South Dakota called on him to withdraw.
House Republicans are also jumping off the Trump train. Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah), Rep. Martha Roby (R-Ala.), Rep. Mike Coffman (R-Colo.), Barbara Comstock (R-Va.), Rep. Mia Love (R-Utah), Rep. Crescent Hardy (R-Nev.). Rep. Scott Garrett (R-N.J.), Rep. Erik Paulsen (R-Minn.), and Rep. Steve Knight (R-Calif.) have all joined the never Trump movement.
This in addition to the already 100 plus noted Republicans who say they will not vote for their nominee next month.