Byron York: For Trump, a solid debate performance disappears in an instant
By Byron York (@ByronYork) • 10/20/16 3:25 AM
LAS VEGAS — Standing in a garish hotel lobby, casino music pounding, a Republican who has worked hard to help Donald Trump couldn't quite believe how the final presidential debate had ended just a couple of hours earlier.
"He had a home run going — a home run — and then he pissed it away in ten seconds," the person said. "Could he just try to win? Just f—-king try to win?"
The Republican was referring, of course, to Trump's refusal to promise that he will abide by the results of the election, should he lose. "I will look at it at the time," Trump said. "I will keep you in suspense."
It seemed a crazy answer for a number of reasons, not least of which was that in the first debate, when Trump was asked, "Will you accept the outcome of the election?" he answered, "If [Hillary Clinton] wins, I will absolutely support her." Then, Wednesday night, for reasons unknown, Trump said something completely different.
His comments electrified the press, resulting in furious questioning of Trump surrogates, who flatly contradicted their candidate and said that yes, Trump will accept election results. There were banner headlines. Trump's remarks — those few seconds — became virtually the only story of the evening.
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http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/article/2605098
