Anti-racism demonstrators rally at Capitol Hill in protest against police brutality and the death of George Floyd, on June 3, 2020 in Washington, DC. (Photo by AFP)
Senate Republicans have expressed reservations about continuing support for US President Donald Trump, fearing that they would lose the Senate majority if they backed him
Republicans reckon that Trumps inappropriate response to nationwide anti-racism protests was alienating many voters.
"The last week and a half has certainly raised the level of angst over the politics of the presidential race and consequences on the Senate. I think its just kind of become one thing after another. Initially the handling of COVID-19 and now this," The Hill quoted a Republican senator, who requested anonymity, as saying.
The Washington-based newspaper said Republican lawmakers had already been worried about losing the majority in Senate due to the Trump administrations poor response to the coronavirus crisis and several of Trumps warped comments, including his advice that ingesting disinfectant to treat COVID-19.
The Hill cited a second Republican senator, who also asked for anonymity, as saying, "Its the tone and the words hes using that I think might harm us back home."
The first Republican senator said the concerns raised by Trumps poor management skills were never expressed in GOP meetings; however, the GOP lawmakers gave assurance that the senators did often express their dissatisfaction about the president for his poor performance in one-on-one talks with each other.
"The things that have happened in the past week seems like theyve really captured not just peoples attention but their emotion, their sense of wellbeing," added the senator, who also noted an opinion piece this week by the conservative writer George Will.
In past weeks, GOP lawmakers have openly complained about Trumps threatening words and deeds, saying they were doing harm, uring the president to help heal the nation and not do the opposite..
Senate Majority Whip John Thune (R-S.D.) on Monday said Trumps tweets were "not helpful" and urged "its important to respond in a calm way."
"He needs to strike a tone I think that fits the level of frustration the country is experiencing right now and I hope in the future hell do that," Thune told reporters.
GOP senators warned Trump that his threats of "shooting" the demonstrators and unleashing the "dogs" on them were further tarnishing his diminishing popularity, as well as alienating the independent voters.
Trump recently called anti-racism demonstrators "thugs", vowing "when the looting starts, the shooting starts".
Senate Republicans were concerned that Trumps comments were alienating middle-of-the-road voters who were crucial to keeping their majority after Nov. 3.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) declared at the beginning of the election cycle that winning over college graduates and women in the suburbs would be key to retaining the Senate majority in 2020.
Meanwhile, anti-racism mass protests continue in the US and beyond following the police killing of a handcuffed black suspect in Minneapolis.
George Floyd, 46, was killed by a white Minneapolis police officer who pressed his knee onto his neck as he begged for air.
SOURCE: PRESS TV
LINK: https://www.ansarpress.com/english/18267
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