Sen. Roy Blunt opens up about Donald Trump at Marshfield event
Sen. Roy Blunt spent time shaking hands with folks from his hometown of Marshfield on Saturday. Blunt taught history in Marshfield for three years before becoming Greene County clerk, his first political job.
The old school building, now a community center, hosted a kind of reunion for alumni as they pulled out a 100-year-old time capsule from the school's cornerstone.
It wouldn't be surprising to see a souvenir of the Trump campaign make it into the new time capsule to be opened in another 100 years, so KY3 asked Blunt to be, well, blunt, about Trump.
"Met him about six weeks ago and I told him at that meeting he had with 10 senators that, really, tone matters," Blunt said. "I also mentioned that I think those adult children of his are pretty impressive. There's something there that's not coming across as that part of who he is, and I hope we see a little different tone. He can have strong positions on the issues but there are ways that you explain to people that they can connect with you as the leader of the country."
Blunt says he supports Trump, although he's not going to the Republican Party's national convention where Trump likely will become the official nominee.
Trump spoke last week about ending free trade. Blunt's possible Democratic Party opponent for Senate, Jason Kander, also opposes free trade. So KY3 asked Senator Blunt if he believes free trade hurts Missouri jobs.
"I think fair trade is what you need in addition to free trade. And, with what's about to happen in agriculture, what's about to happen with world food demand, it's an important opportunity for us to open these markets," Blunt said.
Blunt, who has been in politics since the '70s, says he isn't pulling for any particular vice president choice for Trump.
"I think his stated objective to find somebody who really understands how the government works will be a great addition to what he has to offer and look forward to hearing who that is, I don't have any advice on that topic," said Blunt.
Blunt must defeat three Republican challengers in the August 2 primary election to advance to the November general election.
