Photo credit: Gage Skidmore
If anyone is hopeful that we’ll see a new and improved Donald Trump at his second debate with Hillary Clinton on Sunday may be disappointed. Politico reported on what his “debate prep” looked like this week.
The format was nothing like what Trump will face in St Louis, when half the questions will be posed by uncommitted voters, and the candidates will have two minutes to respond to each question as Martha Raddatz of ABC and Anderson Cooper of CNN serve as moderators.
On Thursday night, Howie Carr, a conservative radio host and Trump booster, played the role of moderator, and the crowd was hand-picked by his campaign. The audience didn’t even ask Trump their questions. Carr did so on their behalf. Before the event, Carr had said Trump would take 20 questions. He stayed for about a dozen.
And while Sunday’s debate will stretch for 90 minutes without a bathroom break, Trump bolted from his town hall in Sandown after barely more than one-third of that time.
Trump’s campaign did place a two-minute countdown clock in front of their candidate on Thursday. He repeatedly blew past that time limit anyway.
“I said forget debate prep. I mean, give me a break,” Trump said at one point. “Do you really think that Hillary Clinton is debate-prepping for three or four days. Hillary Clinton is resting, okay?”
Based on the last debate, no she probably isn’t. It is evident that Trump’s running mate, Indiana Governor Mike Pence, was prepared for his only debate against U.S. Senator Tim Kaine. Trump seems content to fly by the seat of his pants which resulted in rambling answers, getting off message, and missed opportunities.
Sure, why not? That worked so well the first time. Trump might as well double down on this because hey he’s Trump. He is going to win over undecided voters through his Trumpiness alone.