“I didn’t like Trump six years ago,” he told a small crowd of supporters this week at a Hilliard brewery. “I did not think he would be a good president. I was very happy that I was wrong. “
He added: “I have been very proud to support the president over the last few years.
Mr Trump has reportedly been moving towards Mr Vance for some time, according to four Republicans familiar with his advisers’ discussions. He has been encouraged by a number of allies and donors, including billionaire Peter Thiel, who is a major financial supporter of Mr Vance. Fox News presenter Tucker Carlson, who is influential among members based on Mr. Trump, also spoke positively about Mr. Vance in his prime-time show.
Opponents of Mr Vance began attacking him for his lack of allegiance to Trump early on, spending nearly $ 2.8 million on TV and digital commercials since February, according to an analysis by media tracking firm AdImpact.
Many Republicans in Ohio have been waiting for Mr. Trump to support a Senate candidate, saying it will help them make a decision. But as the vote is already under way, some voters at this week’s Republican events had already voted, or at least decided.
At a meeting with Ms. Timken in Athens on Thursday, at least one voter said Mr Trump’s support was significant, but did not change the game. “If she hadn’t been a Trump supporter, I probably wouldn’t have supported her,” said Amy Carr, a 50-year-old accountant at Racine. But Ms. Carr said she planned to vote for Ms. Timken, no matter who Mr. Trump approved.
Ms. Timken said she was the only Republican candidate for the Senate whom the former president had supported in the past when she ran for president of the Ohio Republican Party.
“I know there are rumors circulating, but rumors seem to be circulating all the time,” she said. “Look, President Trump is very popular with primary Republican voters. But every day I win the vote of the people of Ohio, and they are the ones who will make that difference in this race. “
Jasmine Uloa reports from Columbus, Ohio, and Maggie Haberman from New York.
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