CAUGHT ON VIDEO
Erik Paulsen: “I don’t think any candidate necessarily has to be in a position denouncing anybody running for president.”
By most accounts (including that of a local prominent conservative), incumbent Republican Erik Paulsen gave an embarrassing performance yesterday in his first face-off with Minnesota state senator Terri Bonoff. Pressed on his wishy-washy and contradictory support for Donald Trump, Paulsen stumbled and squirmed onstage, but his onstage performance was nothing compared to his disastrous interview afterwards.
Before he ran away from reporters’ questions, Erik Paulsen couldn’t answer what it means to have someone earn his vote.
Paulsen couldn’t say who he was supporting for President – even what party he’d vote for.
Paulsen even said “anyone can earn my vote” before stating his intention never to denounce Donald Trump:
“I don’t think any candidate necessarily has to be in a position denouncing anybody running for president,” Paulsen said.
That’s right – Erik Paulsen just told the voters of the 3rd District that he does not believe it’s his job to denounce his own party’s standard-bearer who has called women fat pigs, mocked people with disabilities, insulted Gold Star families, and who national security experts have repeatedly called a threat to U.S. security.
“Erik Paulsen is refusing to denounce Donald Trump only because his loyalty to his party supersedes anything else, including the best interests of his district,” said Sacha Haworth of the DCCC. “As long as Donald Trump and Erik Paulsen share identical views on wanting to overturn Roe v. Wade, opposing same-sex marriage and measures ensuring would-be terrorists can’t purchase firearms, it’s unlikely Erik Paulsen will ever find the courage to stand up to the leader of his party.”