Trump, down in polls, begs Iowa voters for support

[webfact]

Trump, down in polls, begs Iowa voters for support
By MARGERY A. BECK and JILL COLVIN

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — Unseated as the front-runner in Iowa polls, a kinder, humbler Donald Trump emerged Tuesday evening at a rally in Sioux City, Iowa, where the billionaire businessman practically begged voters for support.

"Iowa, will you get your numbers up, please?" Trump urged the crowd of nearly 2,400. "I promise you I will do such a good job."

It was Trump's first appearance in the early-voting state since a series of polls that show the Republican presidential contender now running second behind Ben Carson, the soft-spoken, retired neurosurgeon.

The usually bombastic Trump sounded a gentler tone in addressing his fall in the Iowa polls, joking with supporters that he wouldn't take them to task for the drop. "This is ridiculous," he said. "I mean, what is my competition, in all fairness?"

"I mean, I am second," he added. "It's not, like, terrible. But I don't like being second. Second is terrible to me."

Trump also overhauled his usual rally format by taking questions. At one point, he descended from the stage to join the audience so that he could speak directly to Todd Landen, a U.S. Army veteran seriously wounded by a roadside bomb in Iraq.

Landen and his wife, Aprel, told Trump they've had trouble getting medical treatment through the Veterans Affairs Department for Todd's traumatic brain injury. "We can't get an appointment," Aprel Landen said.

Trump took the couple's information and promised to intervene with the VA. "We're going to take care of our vets, and we're going to take care of the Landens," Trump said over the approving roar of the crowd.

Trump also touted his Christian faith, just days after taking a swipe at Carson's religious denomination, the Seventh-Day Adventist Church.

"I am a great Christian," Trump said. "I'm a believer, and I believe in the bible."

Trump also promised he would go to China to tell its leaders that the communist country's trade practices regarding the U.S. are unfair. "Do you think that Ben is going to go to China?" he asked.

Trump's appearance was protested by hundreds of students, parents and other Sioux City residents who said the Republican presidential candidate's rhetoric about immigrants violated the anti-bullying policy of the northwestern Iowa high school where he was speaking.
___

Colvin reported from Washington.


-- (c) Associated Press 2015-10-28

[RidgeRunner]

Trump hates "losers."

How will he look himself in the mirror when reality sets in?

[zaphod reborn]

"This is ridiculous," he said. "I mean, what is my competition, in all fairness?"

Good point. He's getting beat by a bunch of losers. The GOP is a joke with ever-shrinking demographic support.

[Rancid]

Bread and circuses.

[Hayduke]

The Iowa Republican caucuses lean heavily in favor of evangelical Christian candidates.

Trump is a good actor...but not that good, and is obviously not in this mix.

Carson, although a less mainstream Seventh Day Adventist, still holds vigorous, determined and uncompromising religious views.

In the absence of someone more...religiously exaggerated and fiery, Carson's quieter brand of extremism will have to do for Iowa Republicans.

Edited October 28, 2015 by Hayduke

[Pinot]

Trump hates "losers."

How will he look himself in the mirror when reality sets in?

The reality of losing to a candidate as bad as Ben Carson, no less.

I think Trump wants out anyway. Running for President is to much like work. He knows he's never going to be President. None of them have a prayer of winning.

[ALLSEEINGEYE]

can't wait to see next weeks SNL should be a good ribbing.

Everyone loves to see a bully get whats coming to him and nobody deserves it more than Trump. Who's the loser now?

Several months ago I predicted that Trump would implode (by his own big mouth) by he end of the year or early Q1, or that the novelty of this side show freak bully would wear thin and his support would wane.

It is great to see him grovel now, priceless!!!

[Throatwobbler]

"This is ridiculous," he said. "I mean, what is my competition, in all fairness?"

Good point. He's getting beat by a bunch of losers. The GOP is a joke with ever-shrinking demographic support.

Not sure how this comment of yours meets with your love of the current government here.

[Expat1]

He is delusional. He is not the choice of the Khazars and their media. Period. He was just allowed to ramble on as cabaret for the elections until the serious boys showed up. A legend in his own mind it seems.

[spidermike007]

He hates to be second. This is great drama. Get used to it. His poll numbers are only going to continue dropping as people realize what an empty suit he is, and the level of his anger, hatred, bigotry, and venom.

[Jingthing]

While it's possible of course, I still don't think Trump will be nominated to represent the republicans against HRC. So when he faces this loss, given his bizarre psychology, it will definitely be some more free entertainment to see how he deals with it.