Dems' ads to focus on Carson and Fiorina after debate, signaling an unprecedented Donald Trump defeat
For someone whose campaign is grounded in "winning," Donald Trump was served a brutal loss at the second Republican debate on Wednesday night.
"The conversation has moved beyond Donald Trump," Politico trumpeted, adding that the GOP frontrunner faded into "just another face on a crowded stage." The BBC described Trump's defeat as a "pummeling" by his Republican rivals, and here at The Week, Peter Weber observed that Trump "betrayed an off-brand weakness that suggests maybe he's more a glad-handing businessman than the kick-ass-and-take-names outsider rebel he plays on TV."
Now even Democratic ad makers have their sights set elsewhere. Ben Carson and Carly Fiorina, who both came out swinging in Wednesday night's debate, are the latest targets for the Dems, who plan to tackle their comments on immigration and women's health, according to Politico. Likewise, a pro-Clinton super PAC has already put a positive spin on Lindsey Graham's comment Wednesday night that "Hillary Clinton has a list a mile long to help the middle class."
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The only mention ad makers had of Trump was in his fumbling antics with Jeb Bush.
"If I was a Democratic super PAC, I'd start playing the Trump/Jeb exchange in general election battleground states," Mo Elleithee, the former communications director for the Democratic National Committee, told Politico. Trump's ruckus-raising, then, is no longer an asset — it might just have become his downfall.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Jeva Lange was the executive editor at TheWeek.com. She formerly served as The Week's deputy editor and culture critic. She is also a contributor to Screen Slate, and her writing has appeared in The New York Daily News, The Awl, Vice, and Gothamist, among other publications. Jeva lives in New York City. Follow her on Twitter.
-
How robust is the rule of law in the US?In the Spotlight John Roberts says the Constitution is ‘unshaken,’ but tensions loom at the Supreme Court
-
Magazine solutions - December 26-January 2Puzzles and Quizzes Issue - December 26-January 2
-
Venezuela ‘turning over’ oil to US, Trump saysSpeed Read This comes less than a week after Trump captured the country’s president
-
Hegseth moves to demote Sen. Kelly over videospeed read Retired Navy fighter pilot Mark Kelly appeared in a video reminding military service members that they can ‘refuse illegal orders’
-
Trump says US ‘in charge’ of Venezuela after Maduro grabSpeed Read The American president claims the US will ‘run’ Venezuela for an unspecified amount of time, contradicting a statement from Secretary of State Marco Rubio
-
Bari Weiss’ ‘60 Minutes’ scandal is about more than one reportIN THE SPOTLIGHT By blocking an approved segment on a controversial prison holding US deportees in El Salvador, the editor-in-chief of CBS News has become the main story
-
CBS pulls ‘60 Minutes’ report on Trump deporteesSpeed Read An investigation into the deportations of Venezuelan migrants to El Salvador’s notorious prison was scrapped
-
Trump administration posts sliver of Epstein filesSpeed Read Many of the Justice Department documents were heavily redacted, though new photos of both Donald Trump and Bill Clinton emerged
-
Trump HHS moves to end care for trans youthSpeed Read The administration is making sweeping proposals that would eliminate gender-affirming care for Americans under age 18
-
Jack Smith tells House of ‘proof’ of Trump’s crimesSpeed Read President Donald Trump ‘engaged in a criminal scheme to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election,’ hoarded classified documents and ‘repeatedly tried to obstruct justice’
-
House GOP revolt forces vote on ACA subsidiesSpeed Read The new health care bill would lower some costs but not extend expiring Affordable Care Act subsidies
