News Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez's office issued a statement saying Donald Trump will not bully her into supporting his presidential campaign.
Trump slammed the Republican governor at a rally in Albuquerque Tuesday night, blaming her for the rise in food stamp recipients in the state during the past 16 years and for the "large numbers" of Syrian refugees who have settled there.
Martinez's press secretary Mike Lonergan issued a statement in response late Tuesday:
"Apparently, Donald Trump doesn’t realize Governor Martinez wasn’t elected in 2000, that she has fought for welfare reform, and has strongly opposed the President’s Syrian refugee plan. But the pot shots weren’t about policy, they were about politics. And the Governor will not be bullied into supporting a candidate until she is convinced that candidate will fight for New Mexicans. Governor Martinez doesn’t care about what Donald Trump says about her — she cares about what he says he will do to help New Mexicans. She didn’t hear anything about that today."
Martinez was among the first in the party to condemn his remarks about Mexico sending rapists into the United States. She has also held off on endorsing him even though her name has surfaced as a possible vice presidential running mate.
A Martinez endorsement would be seen as a possible boost for Trump among two areas where he is struggling: women and Hispanics.
She told local media Tuesday she would not be able to attend Trump's rally because she was "really busy" with her duties as governor.
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