CLEVELAND — Colorado Sen. Cory Gardner left Cleveland before Donald Trump formally accepted the Republican nomination for president, continuing to withhold his support after a floor fight to open the convention sparked a brief walk-out by members of his state’s delegation.
“I do stand with the Colorado delegation,” Gardner told the Denver Post. “They should have been afforded the opportunity for a vote.”
Gardner has refused to endorse Trump throughout the election season, an unsurprising development given the freshman senator’s optimistic brand and potential political future, juxtaposed with Trump’s apparent unpopularity in the Centennial State among likely general election voters.
Gardner was unwilling to say he would vote for Trump, even though he said he wouldn’t vote for presumptive Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton and he believes staying home and refusing to vote is a mistake.
“I think a no vote is giving the victor, whoever that may be, the win without your participation,” he said. “And I think everyone needs to have their day in this, win or lose.”
Trump’s attacks on the Colorado state party after he lost the state’s caucus to Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, did little to endear him to Gardner or the pro-Cruz delegates who showed up at the Republican National Convention. The RNC’s refusal to allow a roll call vote on a rules change that anti-Trump forces had sought gave Gardner an excuse to remain apart from Trump.
“It’s a convention,” Gardner said. “It’s not a play. It’s not scripted so [much] to a T that everyone knows the exact words — that’s why you’re there, to debate, to argue, to put forward a unified ticket and I think [the RNC’s move] curbs that effort.”
