As friction within the Tennessee Republican Party continues to mountsurrounding the party’s official stance on Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, the Trump campaign issued a statement imploring all state Republican Parties to wholeheartedly back Trump.
On Monday, when asked what the Tennessee Republican Party’s position was on Donald Trump, executive director Brent Leatherwood responded, “We are encouraging people to vote their conscience,” instead of a clear endorsement of the Republican nominee for president.
That response angered several members of the Tennessee Republican Party’s State Executive Committee – the group that governs the party – saying Tennessee Republican Party leaders need to be clear in their support for Trump.
“Our position at this time is not, ‘vote your conscience,’ our position at this time is: delegates, convention and voters of Tennessee, you have told us who your preferred candidate is and we are going forward supporting that nominee of the party,” Rebecca Ann Burke, a State Executive Committeewoman said.
Wednesday afternoon, Trump campaign manager Kellyanne Conway issueda statement addressing what the campaign called “false reports of friction between the RNC and Trump Campaign” at the national level.
The statement contained a directive for state parties who are not clearly endorsing Trump:
“All state parties and leaders should look to [Republican National Committee] Chairman [Reince] Priebus and the RNC as an example of unwavering commitment in defeating Hillary Clinton.”
Leadership with the Tennessee Republican Party sent NewsChannel 5 the following statement Wednesday evening:
