Like Ms. Ayotte, many Republican senators have struggled to reconcile their fortunes with those of Mr. Trump. Ms. Ayotte has ample company in trying to fashion a response about how to regard Mr. Trump. One colleague, Senator Mark S. Kirk of Illinois, has gone the all-in route, openly scorning Mr. Trump. Senator Richard Burr of North Carolina has gone a different way, backing Mr. Trump in theory but expressing surprise at some of Mr. Trump’s remarks and requesting that he say them no more. Ms. Ayotte has tried hard to avoid criticizing Mr. Trump — and by proxy his voters — saying several times that she “supports” him, but won’t go as far as to endorse him.

Source: New York Times October 05, 2016 00:32 UTC