Trump Ditches Debate for Telethon-Style Rally

“Donald Trump kept his word and skipped the seventh GOP presidential debate of the campaign Thursday night to stage a production that was equal parts campaign rally, telethon and televised revue,” the Washington Post reports.

Reuters: “Trump’s gamble that he could leave the battlefield to his rivals for one night appeared to pay off, with just days to go before Iowa holds the first nominating contest of the 2016 election season. No one appeared to emerge as a central challenger to him during the two-hour face-off in Des Moines.”

Politico: “Trump’s gambit split the political press corps between his own much-hyped event and the debate they would otherwise be covering across town, where seven of his rivals shared the spotlight instead. It also guaranteed that Trump’s name would once again dominate the headlines on the eve of the Iowa caucuses.”

Daily Beast: “Though he was rarely mentioned, Donald Trump’s absence was felt all night—but mostly because of the lack of put downs, which were replaced by a wide-ranging policy discussion from foreign policy to abortion to who loves Jesus more.”