“Toomey offered responses that weren’t answers” … “On this question, the senator found a lot of different ways of saying that he wasn’t going to say anything” … “He said this all with a straight face” … … “He left open the possibility he may yet vote for Trump, and that he may not announce a decision before Election Day” … “A mixed message there from Toomey” … “If there was ever a moment for Toomey to declare, once and for all, he wouldn’t vote for Trump, Tuesday morning was it” … “Toomey again remained noncommittal”
Fraidy-Pat Toomey’s campaign is now a farce. He used a “Women for Toomey” event yesterday to double-down on his willingness to support a sexual abuser for president. And after months masquerading as law and order candidate, he said assaulting women does not disqualify one from the White House. Now Pat Toomey says he may not even tell Pennsylvanians who he’s voting for at all.
Read the cringe-worthy coverage coming out of Pennsylvania:
Philadelphia Inquirer: Column: Toomey’s take on Trump not exactly a profile in courage
The Trump bus has crashed, but our valorous senator sits in his seat, refusing to stand up against a hate-spewing menace that coarsens our national conversation and embarrasses our country.
While Trump blows up the Republican Party, Toomey walks his tightrope.
“I feel stuck,” Toomey said Tuesday during a meeting with the Inquirer Editorial Board.
Voters have a choice to make, the board pressed him. They’re looking for leadership. Are you saying they are on their own?
“I am saying it’s a terrible situation,” he said, describing his reluctance to choose between “two terrible candidates.”
On this question, the senator found a lot of different ways of saying that he wasn’t going to say anything.
… While high-profile Republicans sprint away from their imploding presidential candidate, Toomey dodges.
That was the case Tuesday, a day that presented a tailor-made opportunity for Toomey to fully break from Trump. In the morning, the incumbent senator spoke at a “Women for Toomey” event in Villanova alongside Sen. Susan Collins (R., Maine). She long ago dumped Trump.
Toomey hawed.
… He has never endorsed Trump, he said, but will never vote for Hillary. Perhaps a third-party candidate. Or a write-in. But maybe still Trump. It’s hard to tell.
Not exactly a profile in courage.
McGinty’s having a ball.
“Man up,” she mocks him. “Fraidy-Pat,” her campaign calls him.
At the meeting at the Inquirer, Toomey talked about how the country needed a leader with the courage and independence to work across aisle lines – to break from party when party is wrong.
He said this all with a straight face.
… This late in the game, should we just presume he’s never going to take a stand on Trump?
“You shouldn’t make a presumption one way or the other,” he said Tuesday.
Thanks for clearing that up, senator.
Philadelphia Inquirer: Will Toomey back Trump? He says he may not tell voters
Sen. Pat Toomey (R., Pa.) still won’t say who he’ll support for president.
… But he left open the possibility he may yet vote for Trump, and that he may not announce a decision before Election Day, prolonging a major question hanging over his nationally watched campaign.
… Asked by the editorial board if he will tell voters his decision before Election Day, Nov. 8, Toomey said “I haven’t decided.”
Did he find the video disqualifying?
“I think I’ve answered the question,” he said.
WHYY: Toomey hangs onto indecision about Trump
Surprise! Pennsylvania U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey is not joining the Republicans who are bailing on Donald Trump after seeing that 2005 video of him boasting about groping women.
Toomey appeared Tuesday morning Villanova to accept the endorsement of Maine U.S. Sen. Susan Collins, and he knew a gaggle of reporters would be there to ask where he is on Trump now.
… Asked afterward if that meant he’d never endorse Trump, or if he might vote for him, Toomey offered responses that weren’t answers.
Play the audio above and you can hear his 3-minute dance with reporters, with press secretary Steve Kelly doing his best to control and cut it off after a pretty limited exchange.
Toomey’s Democratic opponent, Katie McGinty, has been doing her best to drape Trump around Toomey’s neck for weeks.
After the video emerged, she started calling him “Fraidy Pat” for refusing to either endorse or rebuke Trump.
Associated Press: Trump too toxic for Toomey?
Toomey has called Trump’s 2005 comments “indefensible and appalling,” but on Tuesday he did not rule out voting for or endorsing him for president.
… “McGinty is another woman, and she is pushing back against Donald Trump’s message,” said Democrat Bianca O’Keefe, of Ardmore. “It definitely matters. It matters what each candidate is saying about who should be our next president and what they are going to stand for.”
Allentown Morning Call: Pat Toomey ‘unpersuaded’ by Donald Trump but doesn’t rule out a vote for him
… The Lehigh County politician faced questions following a “Women for Toomey” event, where was joined by U.S. Sen. Susan Collins, a Republican from Maine.
Collins announced in August that she would not vote for Trump. Following the video’s release, she said in a statement that Trump’s comments demonstrated “why he is unsuitable for the presidency.”
… Asked if the video had not affected his opinion of Trump, he replied that he had hoped Trump would persuade him to become a supporter and has not done so.
Politico: Toomey tries to sidestep Trump
If there was ever a moment for Toomey to declare, once and for all, he wouldn’t vote for Trump, Tuesday morning was it.
… But while Toomey – who is facing a stiff challenge from Democratic nominee Katie McGinty – was willing to condemn both Trump and Hillary Clinton, he only ruled out voting for the Democrat, declining to definitively say whether or not he would vote for Trump in November.
“I am not endorsing him and I remain unpersuaded,” Toomey told reporters, reiterating the position he’s held since May.
“I think we have two badly flawed candidates,” Toomey said, adding later: “I could never vote for Hillary Clinton.”
… In the May op-ed from the Philadelphia Inquirer, Toomey wrote he was “inclined to support the nominee,” but noted his differences with Trump could become “irreconcilable.” He specifically pointed to Trump’s “appalling” “vulgarity” toward women. But when asked if the Trump tape was disqualifying, Toomey didn’t bite.
“I think I answered the question,” he told reporters as he walked away
From CNBC:
In Pennsylvania, Senator Pat Toomey has tried to take a very nuanced approach to this.
… He calls himself unpersuaded by Trump, but he’s also declined to say if he would still vote for Donald Trump.
A mixed message there from Toomey.
From the Twitters:
@JonathanTamari: Will Toomey say who he’s voting for before Election Day? “I haven’t decided yet” Is video disqualifying? “I think Ive answered the question” (Philadelphia Inquirer)
@JonathanTamari: Toomey Did Not Answer When Asked if the Recently Released Trump Video is Disqualifying. (Philadelphia Inquirer)
@StevenTDennis: Toomey still considering voting Trump, so by definition he thinks the video isn’t disqualifying (Bloomberg)
@MikeNewall: Great word choice there @PatToomey. Strong. RT @JonathanTamari .@PatToomey says he’s “unpersuaded” by Trump but still no word on who he will vote for. (Philadelphia Inquirer)
@billy_penn: Pat Toomey finds another new way to avoid saying whether he’s supporting Trump.
@anna_orso: Toomey still not saying who he’s voting for –>. (Billy Penn)
@PoliticoKevin: Toomey: “I think we have two badly flawed candidates.” But also: “I could never vote for Hillary Clinton.” (Politico)
@JonathanTamari: said this earlier this morning … and was wrong. RT @JonathanTamari If ever there will be a day for Toomey to break with Trump, now would seem to be it. Holding a “women for Toomey” event with Susan Collins