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Trump's unconventional debate prep skips mock debates
AP ^ | Sep 24 2016 | JILL COLVIN and JONATHAN LEMIRE

Posted on 09/24/2016 7:50:06 PM PDT by MichelleWSC3

NEW YORK (AP) -- Since he entered the presidential race, it's been Donald Trump's style to break with convention. It's no different when it comes to debate prep.

The New York billionaire has skipped practicing a full debate as he gets ready for his first on-stage meeting with Hillary Clinton. While he has studied policy ideas and practiced answering questions he may face Monday night, experts who have been through the process call his decision to skip time-intensive mock debates a mistake.

"I think he's putting himself at an incredible disadvantage," said Brett O'Donnell, a Republican strategist and veteran debate coach who compared Trump's decision to a football team failing to scrimmage.

Trump's Democratic rival, Hillary Clinton, has run through full-length mock debates against a stand-in for Trump during her preparation sessions. For good reason, O'Donnell said. Gaming out every potential permutation of what might happen in the 90-minute showdown helps a candidate calculate how to respond.

(Excerpt) Read more at hosted.ap.org ...


TOPICS: Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: 2016debates; trumpdebates
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To: SamAdams76

Hillary will give the left’s formulas her best shot... and it will be her political swan song. Witchcraft gives way before blessing.


41 posted on 09/24/2016 8:15:13 PM PDT by HiTech RedNeck (Embrace the Lion of Judah and He will roar for you and teach you to roar too. See my page.)
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"I think he's putting himself at an incredible disadvantage," said Brett O'Donnell, a Republican strategist and veteran debate coach.

Some poor little Washington D.C. GOPe weasel is just pissed Trump didn't hire him. I wouldn't believe a word of this crap.

42 posted on 09/24/2016 8:15:45 PM PDT by Henchster (Free Republic - the BEST site on the web!)
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To: techno

Saw the whole speech on Fox, and it was outstanding!


43 posted on 09/24/2016 8:15:57 PM PDT by milagro (There is no peace in appeasement!)
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To: Henchster

Kind of like purporting to be able to teach Caruso how to sing.


44 posted on 09/24/2016 8:16:58 PM PDT by HiTech RedNeck (Embrace the Lion of Judah and He will roar for you and teach you to roar too. See my page.)
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To: MichelleWSC3

Not a mistake at all, Trump’s strongest point is his ability to think on his feet and debate extemporaneously. He does this for a living. If anything, relaxing and not stressing will do him more good. He’s got this.


45 posted on 09/24/2016 8:17:16 PM PDT by reaganaut (I'm looking forward to Trump as President. I'm an Evangelical and I vote.)
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To: euram

I would not attack Hillary much...they will make her into a victim. Trump has been sounding much more Presidential on the trail. I would give a lot of policy oriented answers and try to stay away from the mud slinging.


46 posted on 09/24/2016 8:17:56 PM PDT by ez ("Abashed the devil stood and felt how awful goodness is..." - Milton)
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To: reaganaut

Yup... he’s the deal maker.

He’s not even there to mow Hillary down. He’s there to offer America a better deal.

He could do that with the flu and both hands tied behind his back.


47 posted on 09/24/2016 8:19:04 PM PDT by HiTech RedNeck (Embrace the Lion of Judah and He will roar for you and teach you to roar too. See my page.)
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To: MichelleWSC3

They will claim he bombed he debates even if he blows her out of the water, simply because that is what they want people to think - not reality


48 posted on 09/24/2016 8:19:06 PM PDT by reaganaut (I'm looking forward to Trump as President. I'm an Evangelical and I vote.)
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To: SamAdams76

AMEN!!! I guess some need the ‘fainting couch’ also...


49 posted on 09/24/2016 8:19:17 PM PDT by HarleyLady27 ('THE FORCE AWAKENS!!!' Trump/Pence; Trump/Pence; Trump/Pence 100%)
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To: MichelleWSC3
....the one pursued in 2012 by Republican nominee Mitt Romney, who started holding practice debates in late August - more than a month before the first general election debate.

His preparations were meticulous: The practice podiums were built to match those he would find on the debate stage and the mock debates were precisely timed. Later rehearsals were held in hotels across the country as he campaigned, with Ohio Sen. Rob Portman playing the part of President Barack Obama.

In all, Romney held 16 mock debates and arrived in Denver, the site of his first meeting with Obama, several days in advance for final run-throughs and even to prepare for the host city's altitude. He won high marks in the opening debate against a lackluster Obama, who picked up his game in later debates.

Ummmmm -- okay, so how did THAT work out? Did Romney win?

After 14 seasons of The Apprentice I gotta believe Trump knows what he is doing in front of a camera.

50 posted on 09/24/2016 8:20:38 PM PDT by Sooth2222 ("Every nation has the government it deserves." - Joseph de Maistre (1753-1821))
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To: MichelleWSC3
This actually gives me some confidence that he knows what he's doing.

Just an anecdote here ...

I work in a senior professional/managerial position in a technical field where I am often making presentation to clients, at public meetings, and to governing bodies. I've had people tell me that I do a superb job in these presentations and question/answer sessions.

What's amazing about this is that I do very little preparation in advance of these meetings.

This is actually a secret to my success. I have found that extensive preparation makes me sound too rehearsed, and robotic. I have enough confidence to go into a meeting with very little preparation and come across as an open, honest, and passionate expert on whatever I'm discussing.

I'm no Donald Trump, but I can tell you something from my professional work ... Every successful person I know is like this.

51 posted on 09/24/2016 8:21:10 PM PDT by Alberta's Child ("Sometimes I feel like I've been tied to the whipping post.")
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To: reaganaut

The chattering class, the negative nabobs, will say that Trump lacked flair and pizzazz.

But flair and pizzazz isn’t what’s going to get America on the right track. Once America is doing well, then it can get the flair and pizzazz going again.


52 posted on 09/24/2016 8:21:28 PM PDT by HiTech RedNeck (Embrace the Lion of Judah and He will roar for you and teach you to roar too. See my page.)
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To: MichelleWSC3

Trump has about 15 or 16 scalps already this year. Hillary is an even easier target because there is no chance they will ever work together in the future.


53 posted on 09/24/2016 8:21:45 PM PDT by proust (Trump / Pence 2016!)
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To: Sooth2222

Romney didn’t truly dedicate himself to any kind of winning cause.


54 posted on 09/24/2016 8:22:13 PM PDT by HiTech RedNeck (Embrace the Lion of Judah and He will roar for you and teach you to roar too. See my page.)
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To: proust

Ma’am, we’ll be gracious to you. You can be the dogcatcher.


55 posted on 09/24/2016 8:22:41 PM PDT by HiTech RedNeck (Embrace the Lion of Judah and He will roar for you and teach you to roar too. See my page.)
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To: HarleyLady27

“AMEN!!! I guess some need the ‘fainting couch’ also...”

-—I hardly need a “fainting couch” but if it helps you to think that be my guest


56 posted on 09/24/2016 8:24:19 PM PDT by MichelleWSC3
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To: Alberta's Child

I would believe it — to understand what you believe is the best thing in the end.

And it doesn’t even have to be the best thing in the world, just good enough to challenge what’s being put out to meet it.


57 posted on 09/24/2016 8:24:28 PM PDT by HiTech RedNeck (Embrace the Lion of Judah and He will roar for you and teach you to roar too. See my page.)
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To: MichelleWSC3

How about some Compound W for the worry wart :-)


58 posted on 09/24/2016 8:24:53 PM PDT by HiTech RedNeck (Embrace the Lion of Judah and He will roar for you and teach you to roar too. See my page.)
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To: HiTech RedNeck
Romney tried hard to convince us he was the white Obama: More troops, more healthcare, etc. we literally had no choice last time. .. coke or vanilla coke.


59 posted on 09/24/2016 8:25:14 PM PDT by proust (Trump / Pence 2016!)
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To: HiTech RedNeck

only the rabies cases!


60 posted on 09/24/2016 8:25:45 PM PDT by proust (Trump / Pence 2016!)
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