LACK OF ENTHUSIASM
More and more Republicans across the nation are now aligning themselves with presumptive Republican presidential nominee DONALD TRUMP, and that list now includes Eastern Washington U.S. Rep. CATHY MCMORRIS RODGERS, the highest-ranking Republican woman in Congress.
But she's not too excited about it.
"Did I cast my ballot with enthusiasm? Not exactly," she wrote in a Facebook post. She argues that HILLARY CLINTON would shrink freedom and limit opportunity to the White House, and that Clinton "lacks the integrity to be President, and she could never earn my support."
Democrat JOE PAKOOTAS, who will again challenge McMorris Rodgers in November's election after losing to her in 2014, says her support of Trump demonstrates that she is out of touch with women.
"I am appalled that McMorris Rodgers would align herself with someone who has mocked women, veterans and people with disabilities," he wrote in a statement.
Even though McMorris Rodgers points out that Trump has said things she "vehemently" disagrees with, she says she still will support him against Clinton, and will call him out if he says such things again. She hopes Trump can "radically transform the way government works so it stops making the centralized federal bureaucracy more powerful." (WILSON CRISCIONE)
'HOWEVER HE CHOOSES'
As the presidential race approaches the final stretch of primaries and caucuses, it's becoming increasingly likely that former Secretary of State HILLARY CLINTON will face off with real estate mogul DONALD TRUMP. But if you ask Vermont Sen. BERNIE SANDERS, the race isn't settled; he insists he has a chance at beating Clinton for the Democratic Party nomination.
As of press time, Clinton has 2,293 delegates (including an overwhelming majority of Democratic superdelegates), putting her within striking distance of the 2,383 delegates needed to win the nomination. Sanders has 1,533 delegates.
Clinton's supporters in Congress have directly called for Sanders to give up, suggesting that he would only help Trump by drawing out the contest. The Democratic National Committee, possibly motivated by fear of splitting the party, has tried to play nice, offering Sanders five seats on a 15-member committee that writes the Democratic Party's convention platform.
Earlier this week, when asked on NBC's Today if his continued candidacy would hurt Clinton in the general election, Sanders responded by likening assumptions that she would be the nominee to the country reverting to a "monarchy." He added that the party's convention in late July could get "messy." (JAKE THOMAS)
