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I thought what he said was offensive, and I certainly think that it determines the kind of reaction that it’s getting from so many others. But I think if we focus on that, we’re making a mistake. What a lot of the men on that stage in that debate said was offensive.
— Hillary Clinton, saying that Donald Trump’s comments about Fox host Megyn Kelly were “outrageous” but so are Republican policies about women, Politico reports.
32%
Donald Trump’s lead over the Republican field grew in the several days after his performance at the first GOP presidential debate. Trump’s lead was up 7 percentage points over last week’s poll, followed by Jeb Bush at 11%, Ben Carson at 9%, Scott Walker at 6% and Marco Rubio at 6%, according to a new Morning Consult poll. A new Reuters/Ipsos poll finds Trump leading with 24%, followed by Jeb Bush at 12%, No other candidate earned more than 8%.
Seriously, what’s this guy’s problem?
— Jeb Bush, quoted by Politico, talking to a donor about Donald Trump who he also called “a buffoon,” “clown” and “asshole.”
Trump exists so much in his own universe that engaging him, poking the bear, seems likely to cause more harm than help. But that doesn’t mean he can’t implode himself. As impressive as Trump’s numbers are, they are still inextricably tied to the Trump Brand, the bullying, swaggering, “you’re a total loser” television personality. And as anyone who has ever worked in television can tell you, your brand can evaporate in one wrong second. Donald Trump, in order to keep this up, needs to keep being Donald Trump, and that’s a more delicate balance than one might think.
If you look at the whole Republican Party, from libertarians to evangelicals to the Tea Party, you have a group of people who’ve been lied to for 35 years.
— Former RNC Chairman Michael Steele, quoted by Bloomberg, explaining that this anger has resulted in the rise of Donald Trump.
The amazing thing about Trump’s emergence is that it is self-made, without consultants, and virtually all by earned media. … Trump has gotten more news coverage for less money than any campaign I can remember. Part of his achievement is sheer showmanship. No one since P. T. Barnum has had the savvy for publicity that Trump demonstrates week after week.
— Former speaker of the house and GOP primary candidate Newt Gingrich.
Hi, this is Donald Trump and I’m running for the presidency of the United States of America. With your help and support, together we can make America truly great again! Visit me at twitter @realDonaldTrump and check out my campaign website at www.donaldtrump.com Hope to see you on the campaign trail, we’re going to do it!
— Donald Trump’s new voicemail messag. After the online site Gawker published Trump’s cellphone numbers, the GOP presidential candidate changed his voicemail into a campaign ad, ABC News reports.
But we have to negotiate great trade deals. I would get the best guys — Carl Icahn is a friend of mine. I’d say Carl, congratulations, handle China. I’d get other guys like Carl. I’d say, good luck, here’s Japan. Believe me, we will do so well. We will make so much.
— Donald Trump, in an interview on Morning Joe.
26%
Donald Trump’s national lead over the GOP field — a more than 2-to-1 advantage over his nearest Republican rivals — Jeb Bush at 12% and Scott Walker at 11%, according to a new Monmouth poll, which is one of the polls that will be used to determine which candidates join Thursday’s debate.
If I’m treated fairly … and don’t win, but if I’m treated fairly by the Republican Party, I would have no interest in doing that. If I’m not treated fairly by the Republican Party, I very well might consider that.
— Donald Trump, on This Week, on whether he would run for president as an independent.
