Oct 10, 2016 — North Country Rep. Elise Stefanik isn't backing away from her support for Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, despite growing controversy embroiling his campaign

Trump's explosively offensive comments about women, recorded in 2005, were made public on Friday. They included graphic descriptions of grabbing women's genitalia and getting away with it because he viewed himself as "a star."

In comments posted on her Facebook page, Stefanik described Trump's statements as "inappropriate, offensive" and "just wrong."

She added, "I hope his apology is sincere."

Clarification:  In his political conversation with Martha Foley, Brian Mann said that Matt Funiciello, the Green candidate, prefers Donald Trump to Hillary Clinton.  It's accurate that Funiciello has said that of the two major party candidates, he favors Trump because he believes the Republican would do less harm.  But Funiciello has endorsed Green Party presidential candidate Jill Stein.

Support for Trump stands

Asked to clarify whether she still supports Trump, a spokeperson for Stefanik's campaign said "her statement stands," adding, "Her words are clear."

Speaking with North Country Public Radio on October 1st — six days ago — Stefanik re-affirmed her support for Trump. "There are certainly issues where I disagree with Trump," she said. 

But Stefanik also cited broad areas of policy agreement with the Republican presidential candidate:  "When this election is a choice between two alternatives and only one of them is going to work with House Republicans on tax reform, on fighting back against defense spending, on constitutional issues, that’s the reason that I’m supporting my party’s nominee."

Democrat Derrick calls Stefanik's position "reprehensible"

Her Democratic opponent, Mike Derrick, seized on the issue Friday afternoon, criticizing Stefanik's Facebook post:

“We are beyond the point of ‘hope’ or ‘sincerity’ for Donald Trump. The things that he says are unspeakable, his candidacy is dishonorable, and Congresswoman Elise Stefanik’s steadfast support and endorsement of him is downright reprehensible.”  

Derrick went on to "implore" Stefanik to withdraw her support from Trump.   

“If Congresswoman Stefanik was really an independent voice, why has she not broken from her party leaders in joining the droves of others rejecting Trump, and where is her voice when he makes comments like this?"

Stefanik's brand as a voice for young women

Stefanik has often described herself as a leading voice for women — and young women in particular —within the Republican Party.  At an event organized by Forbes magazine last year, she said that she had become something of a role model for young girls interested in careers in public service.  

"Moms and dads started bringing their young daughters to campaign events," Stefanik said.  "It still happens.  Every single week, women from New York state, young women from across this country reach out to my office to get advice about how they can make a difference in their community."

A contrast with the Elsie the Cow incident

Last month, Stefanik's campaign urged Democrat Mike Derrick in forceful terms to distance himself and his campaign from a union leader in the St. Lawrence Valley who made an offensive comment about the congresswoman, referring to her as "Elsie the cow."

"Mike Derrick stood silently by and failed to immediately repudiate the personal slur," her campaign said in a statment issued Sept. 19th. "This individual should be reprimanded and asked to resign his leadership position."

The Stefanik campaign also circulated comments from a local official condemning "anti-women rhetoric."  

Under pressure from Stefanik, Derrick later repudiated the statement, made by Ernie LaBaff, saying his campaign "does not condone any language that disparages women."  LaBaff also apologized. 

Yet Stefanik has maintained her backing of Trump, who was recorded in 2005 saying of one married woman that he had "moved on her like a bitch."

In a statement issued Friday, Trump described his comments as "locker room banter, a private conversation," adding, "I apologize if anyone was offended.”

A delicate balance in a shifting and toxic campaign

Stefanik has worked in this complex election season to balance her political brand - as a young woman open to bipartisan ideas — with her support for a Republican standard bearer who is viewed with growing hostility by many women even within the GOP.

That balance will be tested by these latest revelations, in which Trump talks about kissing and fondling women and pressuring a married woman to have sex with him.  

Late Friday, one of Stefanik's political mentors moved to distance himself from Trump.  House Speaker Paul Ryan, who employed Stefanik as part of his vice presidential debate prep team in 2012, disinvited Trump from a campaign event and used much more forceful language in repudiating Trump's statements.

“I am sickened by what I heard today,” Ryan (R-Wisconsin) said in a statement. “Women are to be championed and revered, not objectified.”

Brian Mann's son, a college student, briefly worked as an unpaid intern for Democrat Mike Derrick's campaign during the summer.

NCPR will update this story as more information becomes available.