On Wednesday, all three network morning shows eagerly seized on the latest Donald Trump controversy to boost Hillary Clinton’s 2016 chances. On NBC’s Today, correspondent Peter Alexander proclaimed: “For the Grand Old Party, an urgent dilemma, fail to stand up to Trump and risk long-term damage to the party or confront Trump and risk his running as an independent....A Trump third-party bid would likely gift wrap the White House for Hillary Clinton.”
At the top of the 8 a.m. ET hour, Alexander reiterated: “Republicans are really in a tight spot here, with real concerns that Trump could just leave the party, run as an independent, and that, that would likely hand the White House to Hillary Clinton.”
On ABC’s Good Morning America, correspondent Tom Llamas promoted: “Democratic frontrunner Hillary Clinton seizing the moment, trying to put all the GOP candidates under the Trump tent.” A soundbite ran of Clinton claiming: “They are all driving the exact narrative that jihadists want to advance. That we are at war not with barbarous violent murderers but with an entire religion. This is a grave mistake.”
Talking to political analyst Matthew Dowd moments later, co-host George Stephanopoulos wondered: “You saw Hillary Clinton try to tar every candidate with the Trump brush, so how do they sort of immunize themselves against getting that infection?” Dowd replied: “I mean, I think that's a real problem....I think that's a big problem for the Republicans.”
On CBS This Morning, co-host Norah O’Donnell declared that “Republican Party leaders are dreading what may come next.” Correspondent Major Garrett announced: “For months now the Republican Party thought its worse nightmare was a Donald Trump third party run for the White House. You know, one that would carve up the change vote and guarantee a Democratic victory in 2016....the GOP is discovering having Trump in the party can be a nightmare, too.”
Later in the report, he noted: “White House press secretary Josh Earnest said Trump and the GOP are tied together unless Trump's rivals refuse to support him as the nominee.” Wrapping up the segment, Garrett added: “In an interview with Bloomberg, Vice President Joe Biden called Trump's ideas, quote, ‘a dangerous brew,’ and said if he is the Republican nominee, Hillary Clinton wins ‘in a walk.’”
