If you could be Donald Trumps or Hillary Clintons acting campaign manager for 5 minutes anytime before the upcoming debate, what would your advice be to either candidate? Let's say you were magically transformed and you are now Kellyanne Conway (Trump's camp. mgr.) sharing a cup of coffee with Donald at McDonalds or Robby Mook, Hillary's campaign mgr (Yes, I had to look him up) sitting in a Starbucks in Washington D.C. What are the most important things that you would say to them? The one caveat is that both candidates must answer truthfully, I know, I know, that little
twist just turned this into an unrealistic scenario, but let's just go with it.
For me, and I would really love to be able to do this, I would first sit with Mr. Trump, I would have to tell him that this debate is the most important event of this entire candidacy. I would tell him that his core following is in place and that they are not going anywhere no matter how badly he screws the debate up. I would let him know that he does not need to talk to his minions (core) in this debate he only needs to address the voters that are likely to go to the polling place, the adults. He needs to address them as adults and leave the insults in the past. I would tell him that the days of name calling and being the schoolyard bully are over and it is now time to start acting like an adult.
I would try to make him understand that there are even more Conservatives and Republicans like me, that are only voting for him because we have no other choice and can not fathom the thought of handing what's left of our Constitution over to Hillary for her to finish off Obama's work towards its destruction. I would stress to Donald that the adults in the room value the US Constitution above all and he needs to do a better job of talking up the Constitution not only in this debate but in all his campaign stops as well. Whether he likes it or not, he needs, me and the millions of others out there just like me that will go into the polling both, holding our noses, as we use the #2 pencils to color in the little circle next to his name.
Specifically for this first debate, I would advise Donald to NOT attack Hillary personally in any way during the debate, he has plenty of devoted surrogates that will do that for him after the debate, During the debate he needs to only acknowledge the moderator, and totally ignore any interaction that Hillary will assuredly throw at him trying to elicit a response. Donald needs to put on his big boy pants and be a man for the duration of the debate and know that Hillary is going to constantly bait him into giving one of his famous ridiculous and childish responses.
I would try to make Donald understand that just because his poll numbers are up right now, they mean nothing until the first debate is over and that he does not need to win this debate you only need to survive it. That means coming out of it with nothing new for the Democrats to hammer you with. like your typical stupid comments. All you need to do Donald is be an adult put your ego in the green room and be smart for a couple hours on one Monday night, and you can have the Presidency. If you survive this debate, the others will not matter, you do not need to win, you need to be smart.
Now for my meeting with Hillary at Starbucks, I would say to her, since I'm a taxpayer and you deplore me, I assume you want me to pay the bill!
