Walker, Johnson, Ryan skipping Trump event

Party chairman Reince Priebus appealed to the NY billionaire’s adult children to help amid new signs of a campaign in trouble.

Most recently, that means Trump’s sustained criticism of an American Muslim family whose son, U.S. Army Capt. Humayun Khan, was killed in Iraq.

US Representative Mike Coffman, a Colorado Republican, has released a campaign ad in his own re-election race promising to “stand up” to Trump if Trump is elected.

Trump refused for another day to endorse the Republican speaker, though he said Ryan is “a good guy, actually”.

The officials, including one with direct knowledge of Priebus’ thinking, were granted anonymity to discuss internal strategy after one of the most tumultuous weeks of Trump’s presidential campaign.

As Trump used the issue to assail Clinton, he faced new questions about his description Wednesday, and again on Thursday, of video he suggested was taken by Iranian forces removing bags of money from a plane.

“This election is Donald’s to lose and so far the Democrats have been clever about baiting him and he generally has bitten”, Ross said in an email to Reuters late on Wednesday.

Walker campaign spokesman Joe Fadness left open the possibility the governor would attend future Trump events. “Many of us have played sports, and have heard people claim to have been cheated when they didn’t win, but I have never heard of anyone complaining of being cheated before the game is over”, the president said.

Priebus feels burned by Trump’s string of self-inflicted wounds and his refusal to observe basic decorum by giving Ryan his support.

“I’m 100% with Paul Ryan”, Walker said in a brief interview in a state Capitol hallway.

Trump blamed the media – “so dishonest” – for growing criticism of his recent statements and his unwillingness to accept guidance from senior advisers.

Privately, however, Trump has concerns about his own team.

He was deeply upset when GOP leaders “took the other side” during his ongoing quarrel with the Khan family, one person said, and blames his campaign staff for not keeping top Republicans in line.

The solid month of July fundraising left the campaign with $37 million in cash-on-hand while the joint Trump Victory Fund shared by the Trump campaign, the RNC and several state Republican parties held another $37 million.

Trump allies openly upbraided their candidate Wednesday for his inability to stay on message, demanding more self-discipline by the political neophyte.

“I strongly support Paul Ryan, strongly support his re-election”, Pence told Fox News, adding “we need Paul Ryan in leadership in the Congress”.

Mr Trump declined to endorse fellow party members House Speaker Paul Ryan and Arizona Senator John McCain in their coming elections.

“I think that’s probably right”, he acknowledged. “And I’m pleased to do it”.

“Look, I support the speaker, and I know after next week, I’m supporting him as a candidate for president, too”, Manafort said on CBS This Morning, according to Politico.

Ryan loyalists were not surprised by Trump’s maneuver.

Meanwhile Whitman joins other key Republicans who have announced their backing for Clinton. The RealClearPolitics average of recent national polls put her 4.5 percentage points ahead of Trump, at 46.5 percent to 42 percent.

A man in the audience at a rally in Denver on Wednesday said Hillary Clinton had stolen delegates from Bernie Sanders and asked Pence what the campaign was going to do to prevent her from stealing the election.