Clinton ‘urged Trump to make a run’
BILL CLINTON encouraged Donald Trump to follow his political dreams and run against Hillary Clinton for the White House, it was revealed yesterday, stirring intrigue hours before the critical first primary debate between the billionaire and his leading rivals for the Republican nomination.
The disclosure that Trump had sought counsel from the former president in May added a layer of mischief to what is already one of the most
The sometimes combative nature of the debate made it difficult for more measured candidates like former Florida governor Jeb Bush, who is No 2 in the polls, to make an impact.
Trump has rocketed to the top of opinion polls amid the controversies, heightening anticipation for the debate against rivals Paul, Bush, Scott Walker, Marco Rubio and five other Republican remarkable presidential campaigns in decades.
During a phone call, Clinton ‘‘told Trump that he was striking a chord with frustrated conservatives and was a rising force on the right’’, the Washington Post reported, citing four people with knowledge of their conversation. About two weeks after the two men spoke, Trump announced that he was running as a Republican. At that point, Hillary Clinton, who is the favourite to be the Democratic hopefuls.
The debate was the first chance for Republican voters to make a side-by-side comparison of the top 10 presidential contenders. It offered Trump a chance to prove he could go beyond his bombthrowing rhetoric and offer some policy specifics.
Republican strategists have argued that once Trump was on the debate stage he would be exposed presidential nominee, had already been in the race for a month. Within days, Trump was inciting controversy, insulting Hispanics and wreaking havoc among the Republican ranks. Bill Clinton’s analysis now looks prescient. Trump has ridden a wave of populist anger to reach the top of the opinion polls and his celebrity status helped to explain the excitement levels surrounding the debate in Cleveland, Ohio, yesterday. as a faux conservative. And when Trump seemed to defend a singlepayer healthcare system, or mentioned that Hillary Clinton attended his wedding, or spoke of giving donations to both parties, he seemed to play into their hands.
Trump’s rivals had to decide whether to directly confront him or to try to stay above the fray and look presidential. Paul, who has lagged in the polls, decided to go on the offensive.
In addition to challenging Trump on his potential independent run, Paul accused Trump of not realising that Republicans opposed a single-payer healthcare system. But Trump dismissed his attacks.
‘‘You’re having a hard time tonight,’’ he said.
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