Donnelly Made Racially Insensitive Remark During Last Senate Debate

Thursday, November 1, 2018 at 7:51 AM

By Mike Perleberg @mikedup84

A poor choice of words may haunt Donnelly's campaign leading up to next week's election.

Democratic Senator Joe Donnelly (left), Republican Mike Braun (center) and Libertarian Lucy Brenton (right) at the U.S. Senate Debate, Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2018 in Indianapolis. AP Photo by Darron Cummings, Pool.

(Indianapolis, Ind.) – Racially insensitive comments were made by Indiana Democratic U.S. Senator Joe Donnelly during the final debate before Indiana voters.

Donnelly was debating challengers Republican Mike Braun and Libertarian Lucy Brenton when he attempted to make a point about embracing diversity.

"Our state director is Indian American, but he does an amazing job. Our director of all constituent services, she’s African American, but she does an even more incredible job than you could ever imagine," Donnelly said.

"But at the same time: They have to have a chance, they have to have an opportunity. And that's my responsibility, and I've done it in every office I've had. And I've done it in every campaign I've had."

It’s the "but" used in the otherwise well-meaning debate statement which is causing the Democratic senator to receive flack less than a week before Election Day, November 6.

Some Republicans have posted Donnelly's quote on social media, one saying they could not believe how terrible the remark was.

"As I was watching the debate last night, Democrat Donnelly’s comments were surprising and out of line with modern standards," said Indiana Republican Party Chairman Kyle Hupfer. "This can't be about just checking a box, as Democrat Donnelly seemed to suggest. Simply saying he should have said 'and' instead of 'but' is not enough. He owes Hoosiers and his staff an immediate apology."

Braun commented, saying had he made the remarks it would have been criticized more by the Donnelly campaign and others. He said he will not use Donnelly’s gaffe made in Tuesday's debate to help his campaign.

“I’m gonna run on the things that I’ve been talking about: the cost of healthcare, securing the border, and people really worried about Social Security and Medicare being there,” Braun said.

Donnelly has not apologized for the comment, explaining he did not mean to suggest his staff succeeded despite their race or ethnicity.

"I misspoke. I meant to say 'and' instead of 'but.' That would have communicated what I have tried to do my entire life: that I make a habit to seek out and promote people of color for both my campaign and official staff," Donnelly said.

Neither candidate can afford a slip-up in a race in which the winner may be determined by a razor-thin margin. A new NBC News Marist poll out Wednesday shows Donnelly taking a 48-to-46 percent lead over Braun. Seven percent are undecided or prefer another candidate.