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President Obama Takes Aim at Republicans for Sticking By Trump

3 minute read
Updated: | Originally published: ;

President Obama appeared at a Nevada rally to stump for Hillary Clinton on Sunday, but the majority of his speech focused on the Senate race playing out in the state.

During his remarks at Cheyenne High School in North Las Vegas, the president blasted Republican Rep. Joe Heck—even leading a “heck, no” chant—aligning him with the party’s presidential nominee Donald Trump, whom he endorsed then later renounced.

“Now, I understand Joe Heck now wishes he never said those things about Donald Trump. But they’re on tape. They’re on the record. And now that Trump’s poll numbers are cratering, suddenly he says, well, no, I’m not supporting him,” he said. “Too late. You don’t get credit for that.”

Heck is competing with Democratic rival former state Attorney General Catherine Cortez Masto for the seat of longtime Sen. Harry Reid, who is retiring. Masto introduced Obama at Sunday’s rally.

The Los Angeles Times reports that the Trump factor is worrying Republicans ahead of the election, many of whom fear Democrats could take back control of the upper chamber after votes are cast. And as Election Day draws nearer, President Obama is capitalizing on his high approval ratings to ramp up his push for Democrats up and down the ballot. Last week, the President blasted Sen. Marco Rubio for supporting Trump during a rally in Florida on behalf of the Senatorial candidate and Clinton.

President Obama also appeared at a a Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee event in California on Sunday to support candidates for the House of Representatives. During that event, Obama called Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) a “shameless” congressman who was the precursor to Trump. “This guy has spent all his time simply trying to obstruct, to feed the same sentiments that resulted in Donald Trump becoming their nominee,” he said. “I think somebody called Darrell Issa…Trump before Trump? And now he’s sending out brochures touting his cooperation with me.”

Democrats have little chance of regaining a majority in the House, but the president said he, Vice President Joe Biden, and First Lady Michelle Obama were working hard to help get more Democrats to Washington.

The president has already endorsed over a dozen candidates this election cycle, in both House and Senate races. Politico reports Obama will endorse 30 additional House candidates before Election Day.

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