News Analysis: Why Donald Trump Walked

[mfcorey1]

It was a blustery and dramatic move, 48 hours before the final Republican debate until the Iowa caucuses: Donald J. Trump stormed out in a rage at Fox News, jeopardizing the network’s ratings and overtaking political headlines.

But the reasons for his withdrawal from the kind of high-profile forum that he has so often dominated may involve more than just hurt feelings.

What may be the most intriguing possible explanation is that a debate, at this point in his neck-and-neck contest with Senator Ted Cruz, would almost certainly subject Mr. Trump to tough questions about vulnerabilities – like his previous support for abortion rights, or his much more recent suggestion that Iowans, the people whose votes he is courting, are stupid.

People who have spoken with Mr. Trump insist he believes he is headed to victory here and wants to play out the clock, a view that was bolstered by a few public opinion polls this week.

But whether he does or not, a debate – particularly one moderated by a network, and an anchor, whom Mr. Trump believes is motivated to challenge him aggressively – amounts to an uncontrollable, high-risk confrontation whose outcome could greatly affect his chances.

The truth could be as simple as advertised: Mr. Trump was enraged when Fox News executives issued a statement mocking him as unserious over his threats to bolt the debate unless the cable channel’s anchor, Megyn Kelly – whom Mr. Trump has attacked for months – was removed as a moderator.

It could also be seen as strategic genius. “Donald Trump knows that by not showing up, he’s owning the entire event,” Rush Limbaugh said on his radio show. “Some guy not even present will end up owning the entire event, and the proof of that is Fox News last night.”

But for Mr. Trump, participating in a debate four nights before the Iowa caucuses would also most likely mean being pelted with many of his past remarks, in a setting in which he could not expect to dominate the microphone or the questioners.

It would be the exact opposite, for example, of the exchange between Mr. Trump and an NBC reporter who, at the same news conference Tuesday at which Mr. Trump pulled out of the debate, tried to confront him about his previous support for abortion rights, including the late-term procedure that opponents call partial-birth abortion.

http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/news-analysis-why-donald-trump-walked/ar-BBoMO8N?li=BBnb7Kz&ocid=mailsignout

[busterbrown]

1. Simple.. Lawrence O’donnell nailed it

He’s setting a precedence for Presidential Debates if nominated.

He will refuse to partake..Understands he will be obliterated by Dem. Presidential Candidate.

This is not a new tactic .. frequently Presidential Candidates refused to debate in 60s and 70s'

[wheniwasincongress]

3. That's a good point

Get people used to him "standing up to the man" and not attending debates


I'm also seeing tons of Repubs saying that it was the mocking press release that made Trump decide not to do it. No, he had already decided that he wasn't going because of Kelly before that - he has made it clear for months that they would never tangle again.

[Voice for Peace]

2. I heard on the radio he's holding a wounded warriors fundraising event during the debate

and inviting the other networks to attend.

[busterbrown]

5. vetrans groups want nothing ..

to do with his fund raising..

[Hortensis]

4. That seems extremely credible.

But whose strategy? I'd love a view into that campaign. Did his team encourage him to walk, all the while assuring him he'd wipe the floor with all comers?

[book_worm]

6. If he's the nominee and he decides he just won't debate it will not help him

in a general election because American electorate have gotten used to having debates since 1976.