UPDATED at 1:26 p.m. PT: Donald Trump put a kibosh on the debate, calling it “inappropriate.”
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In the latest twist to this already topsy-turvy presidential race, Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders have privately agreed to a debate.
The face-off would be a great boost for Sanders, who’s all but lost the primary race. But, the real winner — even if he actually loses the debate itself — is Donald Trump.
Say what you will about The Donald, he knows a good deal when he sees one. And this one, handed to him by Sanders on a silver platter, might be his best deal yet, should it actually happen.
Here are 5 reasons why the proposed matchup should scare the living daylights out of Democrats.
1. The debate gives Sanders a boost
A debate between Sanders, a savvy progressive politician, and Trump, a bombastic reality star who relishes playing in the gutter, would likely make for riveting TV.
It would also give Sanders, who has zero chance of winning, some much needed credibility. And the longer Sanders stays in the race, the harder it will be for Hillary Clinton to focus on Trump.
1. Even if Trump loses, he still wins
Trump has never been a fan of debates. Let’s be honest, he’s terrible at it and he knows it. He has no knowledge of policy or government, a fact that jumps out every time he’s forced to engage in these matchups. He’s pulled out of two debates this cycle, not because of Megyn Kelly or her so-called tough questions, but because he knows it’s not his strong suit.
Sanders, on the other hand, not only loves debating, he’s great at it. He’s smart and funny and he’s quick on his feet.
So why would Trump, who’s all about winning, get into a fight he knows he’ll probably lose? Because even if Sanders is declared the winner by every single paper and TV network in the Western Hemisphere, Trump has nothing to worry about … because Sanders has zero chance of making it to another presidential debate stage ever again.
3. Stocking up on ammunition for the general election
This one’s a no-brainer. Get the angry and cranky Vermont senator to say some bad stuff about his Democratic rival, then use it against her in the general election. Trump has already used Bernie’s attacks on Clinton in his ads before. It’s a cheap and effective way to produce attack ads. And Trump is noting if he ain’t frugal.
4. The California wild card
Bernie desperately needs to win California to make a case that superdelegates should jump ship. He’s already closed Clinton’s double-digit lead in the Golden State in the last couple of weeks. But in order to make a dent in the delegate count, he needs to win big. A highly-rated, much publicized matchup with Trump could give him that edge. It may not be enough to change the final outcome but it could certainly turn an already acrimonious Democratic primary into a bloodbath. All Trump has to do is sit back and enjoy the show.
5. It makes Trump look mighty powerful
If this debate ever happens, it would be the first time a Republican nominee for president interferes with an ongoing Democratic primary race.
Trump would be essentially highjacking the Democratic party’s process by boosting the losing candidate and weakening the presumptive nominee of a competing party.
That could bolster Trump’s image as a shrewd power-player, the biggest selling point of his campaign thus far.