Donald Trump’s media tour de force continued Tuesday, as the presidential contender handed out fellow candidate Lindsey Graham’s cell phone number to anyone looking to chat with the South Carolina senator.
He also took time to hit back at the Des Moines Register, which on Monday, called for Trump to “pull the plug on his bloviating side show” and quit his campaign for president.
“He has become ‘the distraction with traction’ — a feckless blowhard who can generate headlines, name recognition and polling numbers not by provoking thought, but by provoking outrage,” the paper’s editorial board wrote.
“I am not at all surprised by the Des Moines Register’s sophomoric editorial,” Trump wrote on his Facebook page.
The real estate mogul went on to suggest the Register has an ulterior motive.
“As one of the most liberal newspapers in the United States, the poll results [ABC News/Washington Post poll has him at 24 percent] were just too much for them to bear. The Des Moines Register has lost much circulation, advertising, and power over the last number of years. They will do anything for a headline, and this poorly written “non-endorsement” got them some desperately needed ink.”
The Donald, who has appeared on ABC, NBC and Fox News in recent days to respond to outrage at comments he made about Senator John McCain’s war service, also called the paper “dishonest” about his campaign events in Iowa.
I have been treated very badly by the Des Moines Register. They were uneven and inconsistent, but far more importantly, very dishonest. They would rarely write the facts or report what really took place. They never captured the energy of each event and it is a constant battle with them by my representatives to get an accurate count of the large crowds I draw. They know the very impressive numbers and either reduce them or don’t report them at all. It is always wonderful to have the support of a newspaper, even a failing one, but this has only given me more motivation to fight harder in Iowa and Make America Great Again!
The Des Moines Register is very influential in Iowa, with its endorsement being sought after by every major candidate ahead of the Iowa Caucus. As reason would stand, Trump won’t be getting it.