In classic Trump fashion, the Republican frontrunner took to Twitter to share his (not so happy) feelings about Ohio governor John Kasich, a rival to become the GOP’s presidential nominee.
What did Kasich do to deserve Trump’s wrath? Apparently, Kasich’s super PAC, New Day for America, is planning to invest $2.5 million in an anti-Trump campaign, reports Politico. The publication reports that the attack is focused on New Hampshire, where the first primary will take place, and will play out over the next two months.
The tweet-storm started out tamely enough, with Trump tweeting about the campaign, and saying that Kasich’s “failed campaign & debating skills have brought him way down in the polls.” Kasich is currently sixth in the polls, according to Bloomberg’s latest poll, which was released on Thursday.
Governor Kasich, whose failed campaign & debating skills have brought him way down in the polls, is going to spend $2.5 million against me.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 20, 2015
But—as tends to be the case with Trump—one comment was not enough. He then proceeded to continue berating Kasich for lagging in the Ohio polls and his “failed image.”
John Kasich should focus his special interest money on building up his failed image, not negative ads on me.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 20, 2015
John Kasich, despite being Governor of Ohio, is losing to me in the Ohio polls. Pathetic!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 20, 2015
But it only got more heated from there:
I want to do negative ads on John Kasich, but he is so irrelevant to the race that I don’t want to waste my money.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 20, 2015
Watch Kasich squirm — if he is not truthful in his negative ads I will sue him just for fun!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 20, 2015
Kasich has already spent $6 million on ads in New Hampshire and his numbers have gone down. People from NH are smart!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 20, 2015
I loved beating John Kasich in the debates, but it was easy—he came in dead last!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 20, 2015
…and so on.
“Commander-in-chief is substantially different than Commander of Twitter. Donald Trump is a master of the latter. Picturing him as the former is just scary,” said Matt David, a spokesman for the super PAC.
Happily for Twitter, Kasich decided to respond with his own barrage of tweets, pointing out Trump’s support of Democratic frontrunner Hillary Clinton, as well as his inconsistency on foreign policy issues. His approach was a slightly classier one, using Trump’s own words against him. Some highlights:
.@realDonaldTrump thinks @hillaryclinton would be terrific negotiating a nuclear deal with Iran. Huh? https://t.co/5uj3zIcd21
— John Kasich (@JohnKasich) November 20, 2015
.@realDonaldTrump wants to bomb Iraq’s oil fields. Hullo $5 gas…https://t.co/3ENt8qHjUI
— John Kasich (@JohnKasich) November 20, 2015
@ChuckTodd: “So you wouldn't allow Ukraine into NATO?” @realDonaldTrump: “I would not care that much to be honest with you.” MTP 8/17/15
— John Kasich (@JohnKasich) November 20, 2015
.@RealDonaldTrump: “I really understand what’s going on in Syria…Why are we knocking ISIS?” @CNN 9/28 #UmWhat? https://t.co/lZG8FsHlzZ
— John Kasich (@JohnKasich) November 20, 2015
.@realDonaldTrump likes Putin in Syria, where he threatens Turkey, Israel and the E. Medit. #amateur https://t.co/8zMBScS2K9
— John Kasich (@JohnKasich) November 20, 2015
In other Trump news, the candidate said he would “certainly implement” a database of Muslims living in the U.S., in response to recent Islamist terrorist attacks.
