WINDHAM, N.H. (AP) — Donald Trump continued his war of words with New Hampshire's largest newspaper Monday, a day after he claimed credit for ABC's decision to drop the paper as a co-sponsor of its upcoming Republican primary debate.
Trump's campaign and the Union Leader have been engaged in a mudslinging contest since the paper's publisher, Joseph McQuaid, wrote a series of front-page editorials criticizing Trump. In one, McQuaid called Trump a "crude blowhard." Trump, in turn, said the paper is failing and that McQuaid begged him to buy advertising space. At a campaign rally Monday, he read from an advertising letter sent to his campaign from the paper.
"Does anybody want the back cover of a newspaper that's lost all credibility?" Trump asked the crowd.
ABC dropped local television station WMUR from co-hosting the Democratic debate late last year because of an on-going union dispute. The station is back in as a partner for the GOP debate.
Trump quickly claimed credit for the network's decision on Twitter. The Union Leader, meanwhile, quoted McQuaid as calling ABC "spineless."
Trump has used his celebrity status and lead in many GOP polls to enforce control over the outlets that cover him. He has changed the paradigm for television news interviews, often calling in by telephone from home instead of traveling to studios to appear live. He has also blocked outlets he doesn't like from covering his events.
In October, he and rival Ben Carson bypassed the Republican National Committee and threatened to boycott the CNBC debate if the network didn't abide by their demands, which included capping the debate at two hours, including commercials. Trump has repeatedly claimed victory, saying the network caved as soon as he intervened.
AP
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