President Donald Trump said 2020 Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden is 'more likable' than Hillary, hours after party officials orchestrated a four-day convention touting Biden's empathy and faith.
But moments after Trump acknowledged a strength of his rival, he offered: 'Who cares about personality?'
Trump brought up the contrast at a speech before a group of conservative leaders at the shrouded Center for National Policy, which met at the Ritz-Carlton hotel in Virginia outside Washington, D.C.
'Should I say it should I tell you?' he asked the supportive crowd after raising the topic.
On offense: In his remarks, Trump went on another attack on mail-in voting – this time raising the specter of a divided election he said would result in House Speaker Nancy Pelosi taking office on January 20.
Hotel venue: Trump was unusually not at one of his own properties for the speech which had all the hallmarks of his rally, instead traveling to the Ritz-Carlton in Arlington, VA
Hotel venue: Trump was unusually not at one of his own properties for the speech which had all the hallmarks of his rally, instead traveling to the Ritz-Carlton in Arlington, VA
Backers: The National Policy Council is a shadowy body with little public profile but some attendees were forthcoming about their position
'Clinton’s much smarter but not a likable person,' he told the group. 'Joe is not nearly as smart, but he’s more likable.'
Trump routinely attacks Biden's intellect and claims he is deteriorating, but appeared to have at least seen the soft side of his personality after Thursday's convention, where Biden's wife and children testified to his loyalty. A separate video showed a 13-year old New Hampshire boy who Biden took time to share stories with about their shared struggles with stuttering.
'Maybe I’d rather have the smarter person,' Trump concluded. 'Who cares about personality?'
Barack Obama famously told Clinton in a 2008 primary debate that 'You're likable enough,' after Clinton was confronted with polling information about her likability. 'Well that hurts my feelings,' Clinton quipped after hearing the initial data.
Later in his remarks, Trump went on another attack on mail-in voting – this time raising the specter of a divided election he said would result in House Speaker Nancy Pelosi taking office on January 20.
Trump called Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden more 'likable' than Clinton, after the convention focused on his role as a parent and highlighted individual acts of generosity
'Clinton’s much smarter but not a likable person,' claimed Trump
'There’s a theory,' Trump said as he sketched out the scenario.
'Crazy Nancy Pelosi would become president,' he said, using his repeat insult for the California lawmaker, who he is known to have spoken to by phone only once amid the standoff over coronavirus funding.
'Now I don’t know if it’s a theory or a fact but I said that’s not good,' Trump added
'That’s part of their whole act,' Trump claimed, referencing Democratic pushes for expanded mail voting amid the coronavirus pandemic.
'If you don’t have a choice that the speaker of the house become president.' He said it would happen 'either on the 20th' or after.
'Put that in the hopper. Add that to everything else,' he said.
Trump raised the theory at a time when he continues to attack mail-in voting.
Trump then put forward a 'theory' where he said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi could end up as president, as he argued against mail-in voting
'They all think I’m trying to steal the election. Just the opposite I want the fair results of the election,' he said.
The Constitution provides for the House to certify the results of the election, with disputed elections decided on a basis where each state gets a vote. Disputes over counting the vote in certain states could lead to lawsuits, and both sides are preparing for them.
In the case of the contested 2000 election, the Supreme Court weighed in to stop the state recount of the results in Florida.
Biden has raised the prospect of Trump 'trying to steal' the election, but Pelosi said last moth there is a 'process' for dealing with the situation.
'It has nothing to do with a certain occupant of the White House doesn’t feel like moving and has to be fumigated out of there,' she said.
Trump and White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany have turned down opportunities to say explicitly he would accept the results of the election.
Trump set off a round of on-line speculation when he floated the idea of delaying the election, although fact-checkers shot down the idea that Pelosi would become president if the election were delayed past Jan. 20, when the president's term expires.
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