MADISON, Wis. – With the GOP's presidential nominee sinking in the polls, House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., on Friday avoided any direct mention of Donald Trump in a 50-minute event touting conservative values here.
The Janesville congressman spoke to college Republicans on Friday and then took their questions at the Madison Masonic Temple, laying out the case against the policies of Democrat Hillary Clinton even as Trump's personal conduct comes increasingly under scrutiny.
Ryan called on young, college-educated voters — a difficult demographic for Republicans this election — to turn to conservatism and away from the liberal agenda of President Obama and Clinton, calling their approach the "longest con" and presenting it as a cynical ploy rather than a misguided program.
Ryan focused on the fact that a majority of Americans believe the country is on the wrong track and not on the fact that Obama has positive approval ratings and Clinton is leading in the polls against Trump both nationally and in Ryan's home state.
"Look, I know this election has taken some dark — sometimes very dark — turns. Which is exactly why I think it is so important that we take a step back and reflect on what this election is ultimately about," Ryan said. "Beneath all the ugliness lies a long-running debate between two governing philosophies: one that is in keeping with our nation's founding principles — like freedom and equality — and another that seeks to replace them."
As his party's likeliest standard-bearer if Trump goes down in November, Ryan sought to navigate between a larger group of Republicans who say they will vote for Trump to defeat Clinton and a smaller but vocal group who say they must vote for Clinton or Libertarian nominee Gary Johnson.
Much is at stake: Ryan's slate of GOP House candidates, his own status as speaker, the ideas of American conservatives and the course of the country itself.
Democrats said Friday that Ryan is betraying his own ideals by condemning Trump the man but supporting Trump the candidate.
Speaking outside the Capitol steps before Ryan's event, several female students denounced Trump, with one saying that he has spoken about using his wealth to prey sexually on women. Trump is trying to turn the debasement of women and minorities into a normal facet of American life, said Natalie Halbrooks, who is the women's caucus director of the College Democrats of Wisconsin.
"No woman deserves to be talked about and treated this way," she said. "We simply cannot endure this."
The past week has seen a remarkable clash between Ryan and Trump following the allegations against the GOP nominee. Trump has denied grabbing women without their consent — something he claimed that he did in a 2005 video — and dismissed his words on the video as "locker-room talk."
The billionaire will be in Wisconsin on Monday to campaign in Green Bay. The Republican nominee canceled a second Monday event planned for West Allis.
