Seething Trump blames everyone but himself

DEBATE SETBACK PROVOKES TRUMP TO AIR HIS GRIPES

DONALD TRUMP lashed out Tuesday in the aftermath of a disappointing first debate with Hillary Clinton, scolding the moderator, criticising a beauty pageant winner for her physique and raising the prospect of an all-out attack on Bill Clinton’s marital infidelities in the final stretch of the campaign.

Having worked assiduously in recent weeks to cultivate a more disciplined demeanor on the campaign trail, Trump cast aside that approach Tuesday morning.

Calling into a Fox News programme, Trump criticised Lester Holt, the NBC News anchor, for asking “unfair questions” during the debate Monday evening, and speculated that someone might have tampered with his microphone. Trump repeated his charge that Clinton lacked the “stamina” to be president, and suggested that in the future he might raise Bill Clinton’s past indiscretions.

Trump also levelled personal criticism at a beauty pageant winner, Alicia Machado, whom Hillary Clinton held up in Monday night’s debate as an example of Trump’s disrespect for women. Trump said on Fox that he was right to disparage the former Miss Universe because of her weight.

“She was the winner, and she gained a massive amount of weight, and it was a real problem,” said Trump, who was the pageant’s executive producer at the time.

Clinton has already been airing an ad highlighting crude remarks from Trump about women; she addressed his taunts about her marriage by telling reporters Trump was free to run whatever kind of campaign he preferred.

On board her campaign plane, she poked fun at Trump’s morning lamentations.

“Anybody who complains about the microphone,” she said, “is not having a good night.” Clinton assailed Trump’s comments suggesting he welcomed the 2008 financial crisis as a buying opportunity.

“What kind of person would want to root for 9 million families losing their homes?” Clinton asked the crowd. “One who should never be president.”

By the day’s end, Trump had returned to attacking Clinton at a rally in Melbourne, Florida. Blasting Clinton as a “vessel for her friends, the donors,” Trump exhorted the crowd, “We’re going to get rid of that crooked woman.” NYT

Reuters Trump at a rally at the airport in Melbourne, Florida, on Wednesday.