Obama slams Sen. Portman for supporting Trump
President Obama on Thursday slammed Sen. Rob Portman (R-Ohio) for his history of supporting Donald Trump.
Obama was headlining an Ohio Democratic dinner supporting Portman’s Democratic challenger, former Gov. Ted Strickland.
{mosads}”Unlike his opponent, Ted Strickland has never supported Donald Trump,” Obama said in his Columbus speech.
“I understand that Ted’s opponent has finally withdrawn his support from Donald Trump after looking at the polling. Now that it’s politically expedient. But he has supported him up until last week?” Obama asked.
Portman renounced his support for Trump over the weekend after audio of the GOP nominee make obscene sexual comments about women in 2005 was published in the Washington Post.
“So I guess it was OK when Trump was attacking minorities, and suggesting that Mexicans were rapists … and insulting Gold Star moms, making fun of disabled Americans. I guess that didn’t quite tip it over the edge. Why was that OK?” Obama continued.
“And now he says he will vote for the vice-presidential nominee instead, except that guy still supports Donald Trump.”
Obama also hit Portman on policy and for siding with special interest groups over working families, and for wanting to allow Trump to fill the vacancy on the Supreme Court.
“Does [Portman] think President Trump should fill the seat with somebody instead? Does he have confidence that that would go well?” he said.
Obama’s criticism of Portman comes as the GOP senator leads Strickland by double digits in recent polls.
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