Elections

S.C. delegation half-heartedly pledges to support Trump as nominee

By Vera Bergengruen

vbergengruen@mcclatchydc.com

May 05, 2016 05:19 PM

Donald Trump thanks South Carolina with family members and South Carolina Lt. Gov. Henry McMaster during his watch party at the Spartanburg Marriott Heritage Ballroom. February 20, 2016 Tracy Glantz The State
WASHINGTON

South Carolina’s congressional delegation has kept a low profile on the election front since Donald Trump became the de facto Republican nominee for president on Wednesday.

Among the D.C. representatives of a deeply Republican state that handed the businessman a resounding primary win in February, there was no acknowledgment on social media that their party had for all intents decided on a presidential candidate, no statements of support.

When pushed, they gave tepid answers in unison.

32.5% Percent of the vote that Donald Trump won in the South Carolina Republican primary in February.

The offices of Rep. Trey Gowdy, who had endorsed Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, and Rep. Jeff Duncan, who had endorsed Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, said they would “support the Republican nominee.” Neither actually named Trump.

Gov. Nikki Haley said the same thing on Wednesday, and added that she is “not interested” in being considered for the vice president slot. She didn’t name Trump either.

Sen. Tim Scott’s campaign spokeswoman, Margaret Spaulding, issued a statement to McClatchy on his behalf, saying, “As (Scott) has consistently said over the past year, he will support the Republican nominee.”

She added, “Now that Donald Trump is the presumptive Republican nominee, the Senator will do what he can to assist his campaign; however, his focus will remain on his own reelection and serving the people of South Carolina.”

Now that Donald Trump is the presumptive Republican nominee, the Senator will do what he can to assist his campaign; however, his focus will remain on his own reelection and serving the people of South Carolina.

Margaret Spaulding, spokeswoman for Tim Scott campaign

Just a few hours before Texas Sen. Ted Cruz suspended his campaign late Tuesday, taking with it any hopes of stopping Trump’s nomination, Sen. Lindsey Graham was tweeting that Trump was “completely unhinged.”

“If we nominate Trump, we will get destroyed … and we will deserve it,” he tweeted.

Cruz dropped his presidential bid after a devastating loss to Trump in Indiana’s Republican primary, and a day later Ohio Gov. John Kasich followed, leaving Trump the only remaining candidate from a field of 17.

May 3, 2016
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Graham, a famously vocal critic, has kept uncharacteristically quiet since Trump’s nomination became all but inevitable, only praising Cruz and Kasich for “offering an alternative to Donald Trump.”

Their colleagues face similar dilemmas. Only one senator, Alabama’s Jeff Sessions, and sixteen congressmen had endorsed Trump by Thursday afternoon.

Speaking to CNN, House Speaker Paul Ryan of Wisconsin declined to support the presumptive nominee.

“I’m not there right now,” he told CNN’s Jake Tapper.

Meanwhile, Republican Party leaders in South Carolina have shown more enthusiasm, calling for the party to unify behind Trump.

So far no members of the South Carolina delegation in D.C. have plans to attend the Republican national convention in Cleveland in July. Haley’s office said the governor would make a decision in June.

“The governor is focused on finishing the legislative session strong – and once it’s over, she’ll make a decision on the convention,” press secretary Chaney Adams told McClatchy.

With many of them up for re-election this year – although none is facing seriously competitive races – the S.C. delegation in Congress is likely weighing just how much enthusiasm they have to muster in support of Trump in a state where he won.

For the time being, they are staying out of it as much as possible.

Vera Bergengruen: 202-383-6036, @verambergen

Correction: A previous version of this story misstated which candidate Rep. Jeff Duncan had originally endorsed for the Republican presidential nomination. He had endorsed Texas Sen. Ted Cruz.