Even though Bob Dold recently headlined an anti-Hillary, pro-Trump fundraiser that “raised some eyebrows,” Dold is still sticking to his line that he won’t vote for Donald Trump. Unfortunately for Dold, his escape plan isn’t helping him in the polls: he is lagging far behind Democrat Brad Schneider, as Illinois 10th District voters recognize that Republicans are the Party of Trump. With that in mind, here are five things Bob Dold is hoping Donald Trump won’t bring up during tonight’s first presidential debate:
- Defunding Planned Parenthood: Bob Dold introduced a measure to defund Planned Parenthood and voted multiple times to defund it, while issuing a press release touting his “support” for a woman’s right to choose. Trump opposes funding for Planned Parenthood.
- Opposing common-sense gun violence prevention: Bob Dold has voted 27 times against bringing “No Fly, No Buy,” legislation to the floor, a measure that would prevent suspected terrorists from being able to purchase firearms. Donald Trump has been typically ambiguous about his position on this.
- Immigration reform: The Republican-led House has failed to act on comprehensive immigration reform, and Bob Dold supported Paul Ryan for Speaker despite the fact that he horse-traded away immigration reform in order to get the job.
- Republicans in Congress: Instead of doing their jobs and fully funding a Zika response, or working on a plan to fund the government, House Republicans like Bob Dold blocked a vote on the President’s Zika emergency funding request for the eighth time.
- Veterans: Trump’s attack on the Gold Star Khan family was an insult to military families, but Bob Dold has yet to issue a statement.
“Republican Bob Dold is hoping Donald Trump won’t bring up Planned Parenthood, gun violence prevention, and congressional dysfunction because it only calls attention to the fact that Dold’s Republican Party is the Party of Trump,” said Sacha Haworth of the DCCC.