Ryan releases campaign ad after Trump praises opponent

U.S. House Speaker Paul Ryan outlined what he suggested is an optimistic, policy-driven platform for the Republican Party at an exclusive retreat for conservative donors Monday, showcasing a competing vision to the darker campaign of Donald Trump. John McCain of Arizona in their GOP primaries.

Appearing on the Jerry Bader Show Thursday, Ryan says that doesn’t mean he won’t speak out against him.

The early days of the general election campaign have been a contortionist act for Pence, who has remained loyal to Trump while trying to maintain his reputation as a principled, down-to-earth Midwesterner with the primary mission of acting as an emissary to the conservative and evangelical wings of the Republican Party.

Trump later declined to endorse Ryan, although Ryan said Thursday he still supports Trump, despite some sharp language distancing himself from the Republican nominee. Kelly Ayotte. All three lawmakers are facing primary challenges from the right in coming weeks, though all are expected to prevail, and each had criticized Trump’s attacks on the Muslim American parents of an Army captain killed in Iraq.

Trump aide Katrina Pierson accused Khan Wednesday of supporting Sharia law, even though Khan has specifically said he does not.

“I like Paul, but these are awful times for our country”, Trump said. We need very, very strong leadership. “But Paul Ryan is running against someone who’s not going to win but nonetheless he is a strong supporter of Mr. Trump”.

“Neither Speaker Ryan nor anyone on his team has ever asked for Donald Trump’s endorsement”, said Zack Roday, Ryan’s campaign spokesman. John McCain, two of the party’s most powerful members. Kelly Ayotte, who is in a tough re-election battle and hit Trump over his remarks against the Khan family. I know she’s given me no support – zero support – and yet I’m leading her in the polls. “We don’t need weak people”.

McCain, who originally endorsed the NY businessman in May, reiterated his support for Trump later on in his statement. “Just want to make America great again”.

John McCain – a day after the former prisoner of war said Trump did not have “unfettered license to defame those who are the best among us”, and hours after Trump responded by telling The Washington Post he would not endorse McCain’s re-election. “You would think you ought to be focusing on Hillary Clinton and all of her deficiencies”, Ryan said.

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Associated Press writer Jonathan Lemire contributed from Daytona Beach, Florida. Find out via AP’s Election Buzz interactive.