December 29, 2015
Donald Trump has sounded like an attack dog of invective in the past day, focused on multiple targets.
But the biggest casualty may be himself, said one analyst who recalls him – and his indiscreet behavior – in Atlantic City.
First bitten was New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, along with a newspaper publisher in New Hampshire who endorsed Christie and bashed Trump.
But then he chomped down on Hillary and Bill Clinton – "with his terrible record of women abuse" – for good measure.
Brigid Harrison, a political science professor with roots in the Atlantic City area, thinks Trump may have inflicted the biggest bite on himself, though, in his recent round of verbal aggression.
She said he did that by raising the issue of Bill Clinton’s sexual infidelity despite the thrice-married Trump’s own feet of clay in that area.
Harrison, a professor at Montclair State University, said those in Atlantic City in the 1980s “all remember this, his running around on (first wife) Ivana.” Ivana Trump named Marla Maples –eventually, wife No. 2 – as the "other woman" in divorce papers.
“He’s opening the door to criticism on this. You’d think he might spare his children,” from calling attention to his own adulterous ways, Harrison said.
But, she added, “That’s part of his lunacy.”
The Clinton campaign has not responded to Trump's latest attack.
Harrison doubts Clinton will because there will be others who react to Trump with the discussion of the real-estate-mogul-turned-reality-star' own personal behavior.
Trump, who has seen his numbers edging downward in New Hampshire despite his overall front-runner status and Christie gaining some ground, unloaded on his burgeoning rival at a campaign event in New Hampshire.
He dredged up Christie's physical embrace of President Barack Obama days before the 2012 presidential election in the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy.
"It was unbelievable. He was like a little boy: 'Oh, I'm with the president.'"
He recalled downgrades to New Jersey's credit rating since Christie became governor and said “taxes are through the roof."
Though Christie has never been implicated, Trump also tore into Bridgegate and Christie, alleging that it was impossible the New Jersey governor did not know about the machinations behind the George Washington Bridge scandal, which has weakened Christie as a top-tier candidate by scaring away some donors.
"Does anybody believe that? Honestly?" Trump asked his crowd. "Is there a 1 percent chance?"
Christie has not been implicated in the Bridgegate scandal, though several of his former gubernatorial aides have.
"I know you're happy he's up here," said Trump of Christie’s frequent visits to New Hampshire.
"But, you know, the people of New Jersey want to throw him out of office."
