In another sign that Donald Trump’s standing among Republicans appears to be improving, conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt said he was “inclined” to vote for the GOP nominee on Wednesday ― less than a month after calling on Trump to withdraw from the race.
“I wait on events. I’ve been surprised so much in this race,” Hewitt said during an interview with MSNBC. “I don’t have to cast my absentee [ballot] for another four or five days. I’m inclined to cast my vote for Donald Trump, but I have to wait and see what happens in this.”
Last month, after Trump was heard boasting about sexually predatory behavior in a 2005 conversation with former “Access Hollywood” host Billy Bush, Hewitt joined a chorus of Republicans calling on the real estate mogul to drop out of the race “for the benefit of the country, the party and his family.”
For the benefit of the country, the party and his family, and for his own good, @realDonaldTrump should withdraw. More and worse oppo coming
— Hugh Hewitt (@hughhewitt)
So what changed for Hewitt? Trump’s poll numbers ability to stay on message, of course.
“I like the way he has run the campaign in the last few weeks, I think it’s been much more disciplined,” the radio host told MSNBC. “He gave a great speech on Obamacare yesterday. He promised a special session to repeal it.”
Hewitt initially opposed Trump in the GOP primary, associating himself with the #NeverTrump movement. But he later endorsed Trump after he clinched the Republican presidential nomination over the summer, citing the prospect of Hillary Clinton-appointed Supreme Court justices.
Hewitt later explained his revised stance by citing the FBI’s investigation of Clinton’s private e-mail server and noted, “Facts change.”
I did. He didn't. Now it's @realdonaldtrump v a Dem nominee under two active @FBI investigations. Facts change. https://t.co/E2qyqCzG8c
— Hugh Hewitt (@hughhewitt)
Hewitt isn’t alone in his waffling. A number of Republicans tied themselves in knots over Trump’s candidacy in the wake of the “Access Hollywood” tape revelations. Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah), the first congressman who unendorsed Trump because he couldn’t look his 15-year-old daughter in the eye, appeared on several television networks pronouncing his disgust with the lewd comments. Recently, Chaffetz announced he would be voting for Trump after all.
I will not defend or endorse @realDonaldTrump, but I am voting for him. HRC is that bad. HRC is bad for the USA.
— Jason Chaffetz (@jasoninthehouse)
Other politicians who re-endorsed Trump include Sen. Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Rep. Scott Garrett (R-N.J.) and Rep. Bradley Byrne (R-Ala.).
Editor’s note: Donald Trump regularly
incites
political violence and is a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/donald-trump-911_565b1950e4b08e945feb7326"> style="font-weight: 400;">serial liar, href="http://www.huffingtonpost
.com/entry/9-outrageous-things-donald-trump-has-said-about-latinos_55e483a1e4b0c818f618904b"> style="font-weight: 400;">rampant xenophobe,
racist, style="font-weight: 400;">misogynist and href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/donald-trump-birther_us_57e31b1be4b0e80b1ba04348?7i5ir4bn4b1emi"> >birther who has
repeatedly pledged to ban all Muslims — 1.6 billion members of an entire religion — from
entering the U.S.
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