Trump visit doesn't reflect state GOP endorsement, chairman says

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump waves as he arrives at a Bedford, N.H., house party June 30.
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump waves as he arrives at a Bedford, N.H., house party June 30.

Donald Trump's speech next week at a major Republican party fundraiser shouldn't be construed as any sort of endorsement of his candidacy, the state's GOP chairman said Monday.

Doyle Webb said Trump's July 17 speech at the Reagan-Rockefeller Dinner in Hot Springs came about because the party invited each declared Republican candidate to the state and Trump was the first one to accept. The dinner is the party's biggest fundraising event of the year.

"By no means does this reflect an endorsement by the state party," Webb said. "We're simply the conduit to allow education of the Arkansas populace so that they can make an informed decision on who they want the Republican nominee to be ... We welcome all of our presidential candidates to come into the state so Arkansans can have a first-hand view of who they are and what they stand for."

Trump, a real-estate billionaire also known for his popular-culture presence, including as host of the Celebrity Apprentice reality show, announced last month that he was running for president. He immediately came under fire for remarks he made and has subsequently stood by suggesting Mexicans who immigrate to the United States illegally bring with them drugs and crime. He also called them rapists.

Spanish-language station Univision, NBC Universal and Macy's have all subsequently severed business ties with Trump and one Arkansas lawmaker — former Republican Nate Bell — knocked the party on Twitter for hosting Trump.

Bell changed his party affiliation to independent after Republicans supported a move to shift the state's primary from May to March, a measure passed by the legislature and signed into law over Bell's vehement objections.

Bell on Twitter called Trump a "fraud" and "Hillary's Ross Perot" — suggesting Trump hurt the ultimate Republican nominee and help Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton. He added Trump is "doing a great job fooling the GOP and the [state Republican party] is helping him out by highlighting him [with] a big speech."

Webb said Monday that he anticipates additional Republican candidates will make visits to the state because of the moved primary, which aligns Arkansas with other Southern states.

"Oh, no doubt," he said. "When our primary was set at May 24 [2016], there was little or no interest by the presidential candidates. By moving it to March 1, we've received a lot of inquiries about coming into the state and for filing for office to be on the Republican ballot."

Webb said he knew of one other candidate likely to announce an Arkansas appearance in August or September, though he said he couldn't yet release further details. One other presidential candidate — former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee — has already made appearances in the state.

Webb said the party didn't have a take on Trump's statements or the controversy surrounding them.

"We don't take positions on statements that candidates make because if we did we might be taking a position on a particular candidate," Webb said, adding that it's important the process allow Arkansans "to look at those statements and decide for themselves."

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