Rep. Buddy Carter: ‘The Reality’ of a Trump Nomination ‘Has Set in’ on Capitol Hill

RUSH TRANSCRIPT:

KORNACKI: “He is actually in D.C. But we are in his state. Congressman, thanks for joining us. Let me ask you Jim Galloway is talking about the Republican leaders in this state, in your state who maybe are in a little bit of denial about the reality of Donald Trump. What do you say to that?”
CARTER: “Well, I’m not sure that they are in denial. At least not the delegation up here in Washington. Yesterday was a turning day in my mind for a couple of reasons. First of all, you had the first two congressmen who came out and publicly endorsed Donald Trump and secondly the sense that I got yesterday around the capital was that all of a sudden we went from just saying, oh, you know, this is not going to happen to, you know, this could very well happen. And it’s a reality here now. I think that set in and for the first time yesterday I really saw that here.”
KORNACKI: “How about you, you are neutral in this race right now. Is there a chance you are going to endorse somebody before next Tuesday?”
CARTER: “No. I’m going to be for the Republican nominee. You know, look, we’ve got a great field. I mean, you talk about having too many. We have five talented, qualified candidates and I’m excited about that. There’s a lot of excitement in the Republican party. Look at the polls and look at the turn out that we have had. We have had record turn outs thus far, we are going to have a record turnout in Georgia next Tuesday as well. There is a lot of energy on the Republican party and excited about having a great field to choose from as opposed to the Democrats who have a socialist and habitual liar. We are in good shape in the Republican party.”
KORNACKI: “But there are Republicans out there I just saw Lindsey Graham out I think it was this morning saying he looks at Donald Trump and says he is not even a Republican. If Donald Trump is the nominee you would have no trouble supporting him?”
CARTER: “No, not at all. Listen, Donald Trump — you don’t become a multi-billionaire by being dumb. Donald Trump is a businessman. He understands the value as I do being a businessman myself of surrounding yourself with good people and Donald Trump will do that. I don’t have any at all if he is the nominee in supporting Donald Trump.”
KORNACKI: “Is there a message to you and to other elected officials in the Republican Party, I mean, when you look at Donald Trump winning New Hampshire, South Carolina, Nevada, leading in your state right now and doing it as you say he got two congressional endorsements yesterday but before that nothing.”
CARTER: “Right.”
KORNACKI: “No endorsements from elected officials and leaders in the Republican party, what does that say about the state of the Republican Party right now?”
CARTER: “What it says is more about the nation itself. People are frustrated. Look, I’m frustrated, I was frustrated mid afternoon of the first day I got up here. People want to see change and that’s what Donald Trump is offering and that’s what we’ve got to have. We’ve got to have a shake up and people are ready for that. So, you know, this is something — this is a big dynamic here.”
KORNACKI: “Could Marco Rubio or Ted Cruz catch Donald Trump in your state in Georgia?”
CARTER: “Right now Trump seems to have a commanding lead. You know, Ted Cruz in my opinion has the best organization. He’s been in my district twice himself and his wife has been there once by herself. He paid a lot of attention to our area, however, I know he’s got to be disappointed as I am surprised that he hasn’t capitalized more on the evangelicals. He seems to have hit a ceiling with the evangelicals.”
KORNACKI: “I think that’s something that’s surprised a lot of people this campaign season. Congressman Buddy Carter joining us from D.C. thanks for the time. I appreciate it.”
CARTER: “Thank you.”