Donald Trump gets more praise from Sen. Jeff Sessions
By Paul Gattis | pgattis@al.com
on October 26, 2015 at 1:29 PM, updated October 26, 2015 at 1:33 PM

Sen. Jeff Sessions mentioned only one candidate Monday when asked about the Republican presidential race during a speech in Huntsville.

The candidate? Donald Trump.

"I haven't endorsed anybody and I'm not really the best person (to ask)," Sessions said in wrapping up his response to a question from the audience at the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber of Commerce breakfast at Von Braun Center.

The audience of about 900 business and community leaders responded with growing laughter, the image of Sessions introducing Trump in Mobile last summer no doubt fresh in their minds. Alabama's junior senator even briefly wore Trump's "Make America Great Again" cap while on stage with the real estate mogul during that August event.

"Too little attention is paid to Trump's position on issues," Sessions said. "I have said for the last several years to my Republican colleagues, American people want a lawful system of immigration that they can be proud of and serve their interests."

Sessions has helped Trump shape his immigration policies, The Washington Post reported.

In touting Trump, Sessions pointed to trade deals struck by the Obama administration that have not delivered what was promised.

"You've got to have American manufacturing and you've got to be able to export," Sessions said. "You've got to be able to compete with companies that are abroad. Trump is strong on both of those issues. I've been both of those issues. I've been talking about it for several years.

"We had all this post mortem after (Mitt) Romney lost (the presidential election in 2012) and all these consultants had the most ridiculous ideas about what it's going to take to win the next election. If we don't pass immigration reform, you'll never win another election, they said. Well, we didn't and we had the biggest victory in 70 years in the House and a big victory in the Senate. So I just don't trust any of those folks (consultants)."

But remember, Sessions said he hasn't endorsed anybody.

"You'll have to make your own judgments about (Trump's) integrity or his ideas," Sessions said. "But those positions, I think, are popular. I think it's hurt the establishment candidates. It's not too late for anybody, really, to rise up."


http://www.al.com/news/huntsville/index....ore_praise.html