Update 2:55 p.m.: Idaho GOP Rep. Raul Labrador issued a statement Tuesday less than two hours after the one made by Gov. Otter (found below). Here's Labrador's statement:
“Despite his many flaws, Donald Trump represents the best chance to change the way Washington works. This campaign has never been about Donald Trump; it has been about the millions of people hungering and thirsting for new leadership. During his campaign, Trump has given a voice to countless Americans who believe that neither party represents them in Washington, D.C., people who feel that the government of these United States works only for the politically connected. “As a father of a daughter who I adore and four sons who I have raised to be men of honor, a husband who has treated my wife with dignity and respect for 25 years and the son of a wonderful mother who endured sexual harassment in the workplace, I find Donald Trump’s statements about women indefensible. No man should speak that way about any woman, and no woman should be subjected to such lewd attention. Similarly no woman should ever be abused, tarnished and discredited, as Bill and Hillary Clinton did to so many during the past four decades. “Right now Hillary Clinton is a greater threat to our national well-being than Donald Trump. Throughout her time in politics, she has shown terrible judgment and little regard for the truth. Recently, she has exhibited zero respect for classified documents. Clinton will pick Supreme Court justices who will take this country further away from our founding principles. She will also continue Obama's foreign policy mistakes that have made us weaker and the economic policies that have led to the slowest recovery since the 1940s. In this race, Donald Trump is a better choice for America than Hillary Clinton.” - Rep. Raul Labrador
Original post: Idaho Governor C.L. "Butch" Otter says he continues to support Donald Trump's bid for president, despite defections from other GOP leaders around the country. Otter's statement comes four days after the release of video from 2005 in which the Republican nominee makes vulgar and sexually charged comments about women.
Since the video was made public Friday, more than 30 prominent GOP politicians have called for Trump to halt his campaign for the White House.
Among them is Sen. Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), who on Saturday dropped his endorsement of the divisive candidate. Crapo is running for re-election in November against Democrat Jerry Sturgill.
Here's the full statement from Otter:
“There’s no question that Donald Trump’s comments about women are unacceptable and unfortunate. But I accept his apology and his contrition at face value. My continuing support for Mr. Trump’s candidacy is solely focused on ensuring that the best candidate is elected president of the United States.” - Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter
KBSX has also requested comment from Rep. Raul Labrador (R-Idaho) who endorsed Trump earlier this year, and is running against Democrat James Piotrowski this fall. The Congressman has not responded.
According to the Idaho Statesman, GOP Sen. Jim Risch was overseas and unavailable for comment as the video tape controversy reached its height over the weekend. Idaho Rep. Mike Simpson reiterated his continued lack of support for the Republican nominee.
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