But they agree on one thing – the tone of this presidential campaign is not one to be proud of.
“I don’t think morality is relative,” said Ribble, a Republican retiring from Congress who announced over a year ago that he would not support Trump, in a separate interview. “It’s absolutely static. There’s a right and a wrong to things. When you look at some of the language that’s been used by presidential candidates, it’s a bridge too far for my Baptist roots.”
“It’s rallied his base, including women who support Trump. (They) came out swinging, came out with pitchforks and torches to support their candidate,” Clarke said. “Some of the stuff he said was inappropriate. But it was 11 years ago. Why are they using that now? You mentioned Bill Clinton who did not just talk lewd and make off-color comments, but acted it out in the Oval Office in real time.”
“It’s shameful for some of these GOP people who jumped ship over the weekend without standing and fighting,” Clarke said.
“I’m exactly in the same place I was a year ago. I can’t get there, but I certainly don’t condemn anyone who does.”
“The reason why we’re where we’re at today is because the establishment, the big donors, the party elites, they tuned out on the base, on the voters,” Clarke said.
“The populist movement within the party is relatively large,” Ribble said. “The anti-trade, anti-immigrant movement in the country has gelled. It’s there holding up Donald Trump’s candidacy. It may have some broader implications post-election. I think Republicans are going to have to figure that out after the election once they see the results.”