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Ron Johnson, Russ Feingold butt heads over support for Trump
Ron Johnson, Russ Feingold butt heads over support for Trump
MILWAUKEE -- Standing by the nominee. While some Wisconsin Republicans have reservations about backing Donald Trump, U.S. Senator Ron Johnson says the presumptive Republican nominee has his support.
"I fully intend to support our nominee," said Senator Johnson.
U.S. Senator Ron Johnson
Senator Johnson offers this response when asked if he believes Donald Trump is a true conservative.
"In some areas, absolutely, I won't agree with him on everything so we're trying to find those areas of agreement. That's what you do in business," said Johnson.
Johnson says he's formally kicking off his re-election campaign this week. That includes sitting at a School Choice Roundtable in Milwaukee on Friday.
Following his event aimed at seniors, Johnson's opponent, former U.S. Senator Russ Feingold, bristled at questions about Trump's impact on Wisconsin's senate race.
"I don't care how it affects my race. The question of who's President of the United States is an overriding question and what we have now is someone who's going to be the Republican nominee, who Ron Johnson has embraced -- who's not ready to be president," said Feingold.
House Speaker Paul Ryan made headlines Thursday by saying he isn't ready to fully support Trump.
"I think you are seeing the beginning of huge divisions of those who want the Republican Party to be the party of Teddy Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln, versus those who want the Republican Party to be the party of Donald Trump and his hateful rhetoric," said U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin.
Paul Ryan
Prior to an announcement Trump would be meeting with Speaker Ryan next week, Johnson says he's confident Trump is moving in the right direction.
U.S. Senator Ron Johnson
"What I'm hearing is a real desire on the part of our presumptive nominee to reach out to members of Congress, reaching out to us as well and we'll be having those discussions," said Johnson.
A statement from Speaker Ryan's office says Trump will meet the Ryan and other House Republican leaders Thursday morning.
The statement says Ryan and Trump will also hold a separate meeting with Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus.