House Republican Dodges Three Times When Asked if He Wants Trump to Campaign With Him 

Rep. Rob Wittman (R-VA) repeatedly refused to say whether he wants President Donald Trump to visit his district and campaign with him ahead of November’s midterm elections.

Wittman, who represents Virginia’s first congressional district, will square off against Democratic Henrico County prosecutor Shannon Taylor in a race that Cook Political Report has classified as “Lean Republican.”

Trump, who is historically unpopular across many polls, has reportedly told aides he wants to make the midterms a referendum on his record. Some Republican lawmakers, however, are reluctant to appear too close to the president as they seek reelection.

Wittman appeared on Thursday’s Battleground Republic on NBC News, where host Ryan Nobles asked the congressman about Trump campaigning for him.

NOBLES: Do you want the president to come to the first district and campaign with you?

WITTMAN: Well, Ryan, listen, I’m very focused on our campaign plan, getting out and talking to the folks in the first congressional district, making the argument about the things that we’ve been able to accomplish, the things that are yet to be done. We still have things to work on. There are still things that are very important to families and businesses in the first congressional district. So, my focus is on those things and getting those things done and having those conversations with folks and taking their ideas about the things they want to see us do here in Washington and making sure we make those things come to reality.

NOBLES: But would part of your campaign plan be to have an event with the president? To bring him to your district? To talk to your constituents about those concerns you have?

WITTMAN: Well, my campaign plan is about our efforts to talk with our constituents and do everything that we can to meet with them, as many as we can, face to face, to listen to them, to hear the concerns that they have and to take their thoughts and ideas as we go forward and the things yet to be done. But also to let them know the things that we’ve worked on, the things we’ve been able to accomplish for them that make life better in the first congressional district.

NOBLES: Alright, I’m gonna try one more time. Do you want the president to campaign for you?

WITTMAN: As I said, our campaign plan is focused on my interactions with my constituents and the things that we’ve worked on there, those communications. That’s what I’m focused on.

NOBLES: Ok so, I’m gonna– we’re gonna mark that down as “Not yes,” at the very least, Congressman.

Historically, the incumbent president’s party loses seats in midterm elections. Since World War II, the only two midterm years in which the incumbent president’s party gained seats in the House were 1998 and 2002.

Watch above via NBC News.

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