Does this have consequences in November?
Beyond November?



You Mean It’s Next Week? Why Some G.O.P. Senators Will Skip the Convention

In a normal convention season, most politicians are working every lever to try to get a prime speaking slot and bathe themselves in the glow of the party’s nominee.

Then there is this year. Far from straining to get close to Donald J. Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee, more than a dozen senators suddenly have scheduling conflicts for an event that has been on the political calendar for more than a year.

Gone fishing

Instead of being in Cleveland, for instance, Senator Jeff Flake of Arizona says he will be “mowing my lawn.” The state’s senior senator, John McCain, the Republican presidential nominee in 2008, has a conflict, too: He is planning to trek the Grand Canyon (Mr. McCain, who said he supports Mr. Trump, also has a tougher-than-expected re-election fight). Steve Daines of Montana will use the time to hone his “fly fishing.”

Campaigning: Me first

Senators in tough races had an easy call when it came to buying a ticket to Cleveland: no mistake by the lake for them.

Rather than get national exposure, along with being associated with Mr. Trump, many vulnerable incumbents like Mr. McCain are going it alone.

Senators Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire, Mark S. Kirk of Illinois, Ron Johnson of Wisconsin, Marco Rubio of Florida and Roy Blunt of Missouri all say they will be campaigning, for themselves.

Home fires

Senators Lindsey Graham of South Carolina and Dean Heller of Nevada say they just want to reconnect with constituents. Michael D. Crapo will be conducting town hall-style meetings in Idaho. Jerry Moran of Kansas will be on a “listening tour” in his state. Thad Cochran of Mississippi will not be going for personal and family reasons.

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4,000 miles away

Winning the medal for putting the most distance between a senator and Mr. Trump: Lisa Murkowski will be almost 4,000 miles away in Alaska flying around remote areas of her state on a bush plane.

Away, even at home

Distance is not the excuse for Senator Rob Portman of Ohio. He plans to do volunteer work for Habit for Humanity and a Wounded Warriors kayaking event. Cleveland seems so far away.

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Call me maybe

Senators Rand Paul of Kentucky, John Thune of South Dakota, Jim Risch of Idaho and David Vitter of Louisiana.

R.S.V.P. Yes

Senators Lamar Alexander of Tennessee, John Barrasso of Wyoming, John Boozman of Arkansas, Richard M. Burr of North Carolina, Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia, Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, Dan Coats of Indiana, Susan Collins of Maine, Bob Corker of Tennessee, John Cornyn of Texas, Tom Cotton of Arkansas, Ted Cruz of Texas, Joni Ernst of Iowa, Deb Fischer of Nebraska, Cory Gardner of Colorado, Orrin G. Hatch of Utah, John Hoeven of North Dakota, James M. Inhofe of Oklahoma, Johnny Isakson of Georgia, James Lankford of Oklahoma, Mike Lee of Utah, Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, Pat Roberts of Kansas, David Perdue of Georgia, Michael Rounds of South Dakota, Jeff Sessions of Alabama, Richard C. Shelby of Alabama, Tim Scott of South Carolina, Dan Sullivan of Alaska, Thom Tillis of North Carolina and Roger Wicker of Mississippi.
 

Last edited by Goose (7/15/2016 6:36 am)