Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton may be walking back her comment that half of Donald Trump’s supporters fit into a “basket of deplorables,” but that’s not stopping Kentucky leaders from offering their take.
Clinton has expressed regret for Friday’s “grossly generalistic” remarks, but Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin didn’t waste an opportunity to take the former secretary of state to task Saturday. At the Republican’s Lincoln Dinner, the governor came ready with props – four baskets he placed one-by-one on the podium.
"She wants some of you in this basket," he said, beginning to line them up. "This, I think, is for the Islamophobes and xenophobes..."
Bevin then echoed the GOP nominee’s charge that Clinton was painting with a broad brush.
"You think about how ridiculous it is for somebody who wants to be the president of the United States describing a vast proportion of the voting population in such pejorative terms," the governor said.
After a voter registration stop in Lexington Monday, Kentucky Secretary of State and frequent Clinton campaign surrogate Alison Lundergan Grimes said the Democratic candidate is doing her part to keep the campaign focused on policy – not insults – and Trump supporters crying foul should take a look at their own candidate.
"I don't think it can be disregarded... the hateful rhetoric and content that Donald Trump has okayed and supported and continued to endorse throughout his campaign," Grimes said.
Grimes is set to open Clinton’s campaign office in Louisville Monday.