Even though Erik Paulsen recently doubled down on his support for Donald Trump as the GOP presidential nominee, he appeared to be having second thoughts over the weekend. Asked point blank if he was endorsing Trump, Paulsen spun his words into incomprehensible hogwash until the reporter called his answer “wishy washy.”
Paulsen eventually admitted – as he has done before – that he’ll vote for the Republican nominee.
It’s no small wonder why Paulsen would try to distance himself from Trump, but it’s hard to pinpoint one reason in particular.
Is it the fact that Trump is underwater in Minnesota’s Third District?
Or that 7 in 10 Republican women refuse to vote for Trump?
Or because, given Paulsen’s newfound vulnerability in the face of competitive challenger Terri Bonoff, people are speculating about his reelection chances?
Paulsen’s cries of bipartisanship also ring a false note: Paulsen has a “reliably conservative voting record” in Congress, and as of last year, according to CQ he voted with Republicans 96% of the time:
“Congressman Paulsen’s ‘reliably conservative voting record’ proves he has consistently voted against the interests of his district while trying to convince voters otherwise, and his behavior in this interview reflects that,” said DCCC Spokeswoman Sacha Haworth. “Paulsen has stood silent while Trump belittled war heroes, embraced white supremacists, and publicly denigrated women’s bodies, and any attempt by Paulsen to pretend he is not wholly endorsing the Party of Trump is quite simply laughable.”