CNN Asks GOP Voters If Trump ‘Disrespected’ Them By Skipping Debate
CNN’s Gary Tuchman asked a focus group if ex-President Donald Trump “disrespected” them by skipping the Republican presidential primary debate — and it turned out they were bothered by his absence.
Seven qualifying candidates took the stage Wednesday night for the second GOP debate, this time airing on Fox Business Network and once again proceeding without Trump.
CNN’s post-debate coverage included a Tuchman-led focus group of voters in Nevada, Iowa who were asked “is Donald Trump disrespectful to Republican voters like you for not being part of these debates?”
While opinions were split at first, Tuchman got an initially unbothered voter to admit she wished Trump had shown up to answer questions about abortion:
TUCHMAN: OK. What’s interesting is none of you are ready yet to vote, to caucus for Donald Trump, the former president of the United States.
Something that was brought up quite a bit tonight, by Christie, by DeSantis, is Donald Trump disrespectful to Republican voters like you for not being part of these debates? What do you think?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.
TUCHMAN: No and yes. How come? No?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I just think that, you know, it’s his decision, personal decision. And I think he feels like he — he has a lot of people that just know what he’s about.
He’s been here several times. He’s done several rallies. He’s done lots of interviews, and so I think he probably feels like that kind of takes the place of him having to be on the debate stage. And I don’t think he feels like he has a really good shot, given what’s happened in the past —
TUCHMAN: Would you like to hear him talk about the abortion issue, for example?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It bothered me, the abortion issue that’s come up, yes.
TUCHMAN: But he wasn’t here.
OK. What about you?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I think it’s disrespectful that he didn’t come to try to earn Iowans’ votes, because so many people’s votes are still up for grabs here in Iowa. And so not coming to try to earn that with the other candidates, I think is a sign of disrespect. And I don’t think he earned anyone’s vote by not coming.
Watch above via CNN’s “The Republican Presidential Debate: Post Debate: Analysis.”
