The Note: The Unshackling of Donald Trump

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October 12, 2016

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The Unshackling of Donald Trump

Trump Campaign Manager Berates 'Wishy-Washy' Republican Leaders

Donald Trump's campaign manager Kellyanne Conway today denounced some top Republican leaders for being "very wishy-washy" in their support of the GOP presidential nominee, after House Speaker Paul Ryan said he will no longer defend or campaign for Trump, according to ABC's MORGAN WINSOR. "We want the support of anybody who's going to publicly endorse us. But enough of the pussyfooting around in terms of, you know, do you support us or do you not support us," Conway said today on ABC News' "Good Morning America." "Some of these leaders have been very wishy-washy." http://abcn.ws/2e8Syzs

Today on the Trail with ABC's Ryan Struyk

Donald Trump has been at odds with top GOP leaders over the last 24 hours, blasting Paul Ryan on Twitter repeatedly yesterday for telling House Republicans he would not defend or campaign for him. Trump has two campaign events this afternoon in Florida -- a must-win state for the real estate mogul, who has stumbled in recent polls but mostly halted the cascade of un-endorsements from the weekend with his Sunday night debate. Meanwhile, Hillary Clinton will be in Colorado and Nevada -- both Hispanic-heavy states that may tip her way in November. Clinton dealt with hecklers yesterday who called her husband a "rapist" during an event. She'll be at a voter registration event this afternoon in Colorado and then an early vote event late tonight in Nevada.

Veep Watch

Mike Pence will be back on the stump again for Donald Trump this afternoon in the crucial battleground states of North Carolina and Virginia, although many analysts believe Virginia is a lost cause in the presidential race. And Clinton's team will be covering several battlegrounds today: Tim Kaine will take to North Carolina for Hillary Clinton this afternoon and his wife Anne Holton will be in New Hampshire.

Analysis - ABC's Rick Klein

Unshackled Trump is a dangerous thing – to his own party perhaps more than anything else. Donald Trump has responded to the rebellion inside the GOP by lashing back at those who are expressing concerns about his candidacy, blasting "weak and ineffective" Republican office-holders. This list includes, in his telling, House Speaker Paul Ryan (whom he's not sure should stay in the job) and Sen. John McCain (who is fighting to keep his job in the complex storm Trump stirred up). Trump also released an ad so over-the-top that "SNL" would have trouble beating it, featuring a coughing and stumbling Hillary Clinton. Trump has always felt he wasn't getting the respect he deserved for winning the primaries from members from Republican insiders. But his very Trumpian response to the latest developments threatens to narrow, not broaden, his appeal. This is a campaign, and now an entire political party, that's in the process of melting down. Trump's campaign is adding heat to that mix.