US Sen. Portman won't say if he will back Trump

YOUNGSTOWN — While criticizing Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump for his “failure” to “condemn” support from a former Ku Klux Klan grand wizard, U.S. Sen. Rob Portman refused to say today whether he would back Trump if he’s the party’s nominee.

During a call with Ohio reporters, Portman, a Republican, was asked nine times if he’d back Trump if he gets the party’s nomination.

Several times Portman said he’s “strongly supporting” Ohio Gov. John Kasich for president and that Kasich “still has a path” to the party’s nomination.

When asked directly by a Vindicator reporter about why he’s said he’d support Trump in the past and wasn’t giving a direct answer, Portman said, “I support the Republican nominee unless something crazy happens.”

The follow-up question about if “something crazy” with Trump hasn’t already happened wasn’t addressed by Portman.

Asked again about backing Trump, Portman said, “We’ll see, won’t we? We’ll see.”

For the complete story, read Wednesday’s Vindicator and Vindy.com