Early in this presidential campaign, back when there were more than a dozen people fighting for the Republican nomination, word got around that Donald Trump really wasn't going to do this. He really didn't want to have to disclose his taxes, hand over his daily business decisions to somebody else, have the press go through his background, spend all that time on the road, drop the reality TV show ... . He didn't really want to do this. Surely "running for president" was just another way to develop the brand, right?
Then, when it became obvious to everybody that Donald Trump had a chance to win the nomination, and somehow a plurality of voters in the Republican primaries were taking him seriously, he still didn't really want to do this. He would come in second or third or fourth place during Super Tuesday I or Super Tuesday II and go on to perhaps form some sort of ultra-conservative Trump media that would compete with Fox News for eyeballs and clicks and make him another fortune.
Well, now it's late in the campaign. He's won the nomination of the Republican Party. And still it doesn't seem like he really wants to do this.
The papers report that Hillary Clinton and the PAC supporting her have $194 million in the bank for the last two months. The Wall Street Journal reported last week that his super PACs haven't reported yet, but Donald Trump's campaign had $103 million on hand. These last few months will be months of debate and advertising. One of those costs money.
The papers also reported last week that Donald Trump has taken an "unorthodox" approach to campaign spending. Apparently that approach is to not. Donald Trump's campaign has aired a historically low number of TV ads. In the last presidential race, Mitt Romney had spent nearly $50 million in the summer campaign. Donald Trump's number is closer to $20 million.
Then there are the battleground states, where what the handlers call Good Ground Game is important. Over in Florida--the state known for hanging chads not long ago--the race for that traditionally swing state is tied, according to polls. In a few weeks, Florida will be mailing ballots to voters. By last count (on Sept. 20), Hillary Clinton had 59 offices working for her, with plans to add another 20 before Oct. 1. Donald Trump's campaign was relying on 26 GOP offices.
Now comes word--just in time for Monday night fights--that Hillary Clinton has been prepping for a week or more on how to handle The Donald, whichever The Donald it is, at tonight's debate. People are standing in for Donald Trump in her practices. She's got professional help from former White House staffers and friends (and one husband who's pretty good at debates). And she'll be prepared if Donald Trump comes out smiling or reverts back to his primary style, with insults and questionable pronouncements.
What has Donald Trump been doing to prepare for Hillary? Not much. He told the papers dry runs aren't all that good and there's a danger in being over-prepared.
Over-prepared. For a debate. A presidential debate.
Does he really want this?
Here's hoping the man is just playing the expectations game and has been working behind the scenes like he wants the job. This isn't reality TV any longer. It's reality on TV. The American people have a difficult choice to make in November--a choice that few seem happy with. They deserve to have their candidates prepared and ready to answer questions on small matters like life and death, foreign wars, terrorism, jobs back home and violence in our streets.
Labor Day was weeks ago. Even by historical standards in this Republic, it's time to get busy and take the campaign seriously. We the People deserve to have the candidates in both major parties giving it their best. Trying, at least.
Does he really want this?
Editorial on 09/26/2016