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Republicans Drop Support after Trump’s Offensive Remarks | ASHARQ AL-AWSAT English Archive 2005 -2017
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Republican Candidate Donald Trump. AP


Washington- Republican Candidate Donald Trump faces his democratic opponent Hillary Clinton on Sunday night during the second presidential debate.

Clinton will benefit from the scandal of the leaked recording of Trump making offensive remarks on women and his relations with married women.

Analysts expect the debate between the two candidates to be full of scandals and accusations.

Many experts predicted that Trump will be terminated in this debate because of the recording.

The Republican Party is having a debate whether Trump is a fit candidate for the post of the president of the United States and the high probability of him losing points for the Democrats.

Many criticized Trump for his comments since the recording emerged as Clinton took it to her Twitter account to comment on the matter, saying: “This is horrific. We cannot allow this man to become president.”

Senator Tim Kaine expressed his disgust over Trump’s vulgar, sexually aggressive comments.

Kaine called Trump’s behavior “outrageous”. He said: “It makes me sick to my stomach…I’m sad to say that I’m not surprised.”

Criticism was not limited to the opposing party. Trump was condemned also within his own party.

Speaker Paul Ryan said he was “sickened” by Trump’s remarks. While former Utah Governor Jon Huntsman called on the GOP nominee to drop out of the presidential race.

Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus announced: ”No woman should ever be described in these terms or talked about in this manner. Ever.”

Former candidate Mitt Romney Tweeted: “Hitting on married women? Condoning assault? Such vile degradations demean our wives and daughters and corrupt America’s face to the world.”

Even before this scandal, Trump’s popularity was declining as polls revealed that he was particularly rejected among females.

On Saturday, Trump apologized in a recorded 90-seconds video posted on social media. He said he is not a perfect person and that the leaked video recorded in 2005 does not reveal his true position of women.

“I’ve never said I’m a perfect person, nor pretended to be someone that I’m not,” said Trump.

“I’ve said and done things I regret, and the words released today on this more-than-a-decade-old video are one of them,” he said.

“Anyone who knows me knows these words don’t reflect who I am,” he continued, saying “I said it, I was wrong, and I apologize.”

“I pledge to be a better man tomorrow and will never, ever let you down,” Trump added.

The billionaire businessman also attacked Clinton and her husband former President Bill Clinton, talking about Bill’s former sexual scandal.

“Hillary Clinton and her kind have run our country into the ground,” Trump said. “I’ve said some foolish things, but there’s a big difference between the words and actions of other people. Bill Clinton has actually abused women, and Hillary has bullied, attacked, shamed and intimidated his victims.”

NBC News broadcasted the video that was uncovered by The Washington Post. Trump made offensive comments about women not knowing that the microphone was on at the time.

Bill Schneider, a political analyst and professor of policy, government and international affairs at George Mason University, said that Trump’s words were “devastating” and “poisonous”.

“Most Americans already think he’s not qualified [to be U.S. president], but this just confirms that,” Schneider said. “If he stays in the race, that’s his decision, but he’s almost certain to lose.”

Schneider said, however, that despite the blunder, Trump’s “core supporters will probably stay with him”.