Reaction rolled in from all sides on Saturday from politicians in Maine and New England a day after the release of 2005 video showing Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump bragging about using his celebrity to have his way with women.

“You know I’m automatically attracted to beautiful — I just start kissing them,” Trump is heard saying in the “Access Hollywood” footage. “It’s like a magnet. Just kiss. I don’t even wait. And when you’re a star they let you do it. You can do anything.”

In an apology, he called it “locker room banter.”

During a campaign swing through Lewiston Saturday morning, former Massachusetts Gov. Bill Weld, the vice presidential candidate on the Libertarian ticket, said he wasn’t surprised.

“He’s said as much many times before,” Weld said. “That’s why these things bounce off; that’s (Trump’s) image. He’s been so successful in stirring up anger. He’s disqualified himself for the presidency on dozens of occasions — this is one of them.

“At the end of the day (on Election Day), I’m not sure it will slide off,” he added. “When people go in the booth, they’re going to think. Our hope is that voters this year of all years will think for themselves.”

Republican U.S. Sen. Susan Collins, who had already announced she wouldn’t vote for Trump, said in a statement: “Donald Trump’s lewd comments are the latest in a series of remarks he has made ranging from inappropriate to reprehensible that demonstrate why he is unsuitable for the presidency. It was comments like these, including the statements he made about John McCain, a disabled reporter, the family of a fallen soldier and more, that caused me to decide this summer that I could not support his candidacy.”

U.S. Sen. Kelly Ayotte, a New Hampshire Republican running for re-election who had supported Trump, released a statement retracting her support.

“I wanted to be able to support my party’s nominee, chosen by the people, because I feel strongly that we need a change in direction for our country,” she said. “However, I’m a mom and an American first, and I cannot and will not support a candidate for president who brags about degrading and assaulting women. I will not be voting for Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton and instead will be writing in Governor Pence for president on Election Day.”

Independent U.S. Sen. Angus King echoed similar remarks in his statement.

“These comments are totally indefensible but, unfortunately, are consistent with his long history of demeaning women generally,” King said. “This incident gives us a startling insight into how he really thinks and talks in private — and it’s not close to the character and attitude required of someone being considered as president.”

U.S. Rep. Bruce Poliquin, a Republican from Maine’s 2nd District running for re-election, weighed in with a tweet on Saturday afternoon critical of Trump and with choice words for Clinton.

“Donald Trump’s comments were repulsive. There is no place in Maine and America to demean any person,” it read. “I’m proud of the professional women who I’ve hired in my office to work hard for our 2nd District families. It’s also disturbing to learn about Secretary Clinton’s paid speeches where she stated her support for open borders and open trade, and then turned around and lied to the public about those positions. It appears she’ll say anything to get elected.”

Maine Democratic Party Chairman Phil Bartlett in a release said that wasn’t enough and called on Poliquin to condemn Trump and firmly address whether or not he’d vote for him.

“Donald Trump’s comments reveal a deep-rooted misogyny, a belief that he is entitled to do ‘anything’ he wants to women because, in his own words, he is a ‘star,” Bartlett said. “His outrageous remarks about women — our mothers, daughters, sisters, colleagues, partners, neighbors and friends — are among the worst he has said about anyone. Bruce Poliquin has remained silent for far too long. Will he join the growing number of Republicans in Congress who have either withdrawn their endorsement of Trump or called on him to drop out of the race entirely? Or will he continue to hide beneath his desk, refusing to stand up for the women of his district and his state?”

kskelton@sunjournal.com

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