By: Charles Ayers
Republican Presidential candidates eager for an opportunity to go after Donald Trump have been presented with a prime opening. The controversial mogul disparaged US Senator John McCain’s war record at the Family Leadership Summit in Iowa this Saturday, stating, ““He’s not a war hero. He’s a war hero because he was captured. I like people who weren’t captured.” John McCain, the Republican Presidential nominee in 2008, was a naval aviator during the Vietnam War. In 1967, his plain was shot down over North Vietnam; he would endure five and a half years of imprisonment and torture, turning a down an offer of early release. McCain has been vocally critical of Trump’s candidacy, especially concerning the developer’s harsh stance on immigration. During an interview last week, McCain noted that Trump’s inflammatory rhetoric had “fired up the crazies” within the Republican Party. McCain personally supports comprehensive immigration reform.
Several Republican candidates have already rushed to McCain’s aid while harshly criticizing Trump’s comments. Rick Perry demand that Trump apologize, and claimed that his words disqualified him from being commander in chief. Lindsey Graham, McCain’s preferred candidate, also condemned the billionaire’s remarks. Both candidates (and former veterans) haven’t been preforming well in the polls compared to Trump, and probably hope to gain much needed exposure by attacking an individual many consider harmful to the Republican Party brand. Lindsey had previously said that Trump’s statements on immigration were “wrecking ball for the future of the Republican Party with the Hispanic community” and urged party members to “reject this demagoguery. If we don’t, we will lose, and we will deserve to lose.” Governor Scott Walker, who has been reluctant to criticize Trump thus far, “unequivocally” denounced Trump for his harsh words. Ted Cruz did not go so far, stating that while he believed McCain to be “an American hero”, he would not “say something bad about Donald Trump.”
Trump remains unapologetic, refusing to walk back his comments while claiming that he “said nothing wrong”. He accused McCain and his fellow candidates of fueling media frenzy, and firmly committed to staying in the race. While it remains to be seen how the incident will affect his standing, Trump has been enjoying a recent surge in support, with some polls placing him at the top of the Republican field. As such, Republican leaders, worried about his disruptive impact on the race and the possibility of a third-party run, could use this incident as a tool to erode his support.