It’s not just President Obama who is enthusiastic about sharing the stage with Hillary Clinton. At nearly every stop, Hillary is joined in the spotlight by not just those who have come to support her candidacy, but those who hope to benefit from it—state and local candidates eager to be associated with her campaign. However, down the road at Trump’s rallies, no one seems interested in showing up to bask in the cheeto charisma. In fact, candidates are doing their best to ignore the existence of Donald Trump and to stay out of town when his circus comes to visit.
The same thing seems to be happening on Capitol Hill. Just last month Donald Trump made a triumphal visit to D.C. where Republicans fairly lined the street to take the knee and Paul Ryan issued a pre-digested call for unifying behind Trump to drive the great white conservative ship of state ever forward.
But as Trump comes to take a re-measure of the White House drapes, the enthusiasm from Republicans in the House and Senate isn’t just less than it was a month ago. It's nonexistent.
With less than two weeks to go before the official nominating convention in Cleveland, Republican lawmakers' frustration with their nominee's off-script message and dismal fundraising appears to be manifesting itself in their utter disinterest in showing up to visit him.
Even those who have previously endorsed Trump seem to have developed an allergy.
"I have not looked at my schedule yet to know," Sen. Rob Portman (R-OH) said when asked by reporters if he planned to attend the meeting with Trump. "I'm very wrapped up – as you know in this terror bill right now. That's what I'm totally focused on."
Pat Toomey? Also hasn’t had time to check his schedule. Marco Rubio? Says he’ll be busy in the Senate (because we knew how much Rubio hates to miss a vote). John McCain? Conflicting item on his agenda.
It sounds like Trump should have plenty of time to meet with anyone who isn’t running for office. Because any Republican who is running for office, does not want to be seen with Trump.