Donald Trump says criticism of Bill Clinton is fair

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“There was certainly a lot of abuse of women,” Mr. Trump said. He added, “And that certainly will be fair game. Certainly if they play the woman’s card with respect to me, that will be fair game.” Photo: Reuters

Donald Trump is reviving memories of Bill Clinton’s affair with a White House intern and his turbulent interactions with African American voters during South Carolina’s 2008 primary as the ex-president campaigns for his wife in New Hampshire.

Mr. Trump’s latest broadsides on the Clintons appear beneficial to both as they seek to energise voters leading into the first primary contests. But, some observers warn, they could pose a long-term risk for Mr. Trump in his effort to succeed President Barack Obama.

“If Hillary thinks she can unleash her husband, with his terrible record of women abuse, while playing the women’s card on me, she’s wrong!” Mr. Trump said on Twitter on Monday to his nearly 5.5 million followers.

“Remember that Bill Clinton was brought in to help Hillary against Obama in 2008. He was terrible, failed badly, and was called a racist!” he added late Monday night.

The attacks are the latest in an escalating feud between Mr. Trump and Hillary Clinton, who have been spending more time focused on each other as the first nominating contests draw nearer. Both are leading preference polls nationally though Mr. Trump appears increasingly vulnerable in Iowa, while Ms. Clinton faces a challenge from Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders in New Hampshire.

After Mr. Obama’s win, the former president noted that Jesse Jackson had won South Carolina’s primary in 1984 and 1988 victories that didn’t lead to the Democratic nomination. The remarks angered many black voters and officials in the state, who viewed it as an attempt to diminish Obama, then Hillary Clinton’s main rival.

In a phone interview with NBC’s “Today Show,” Mr. Trump said that his comments about Bill Clinton were “fair game” after Hillary Clinton accused him of having a “penchant for sexism.” Her remark was in response to Mr. Trump saying Clinton had been “schlonged” by Obama in the 2008 nominating contest.

“There was certainly a lot of abuse of women,” Mr. Trump said. He added, “And that certainly will be fair game. Certainly if they play the woman’s card with respect to me, that will be fair game.”

Speaking aboard his private jet at Eppley Field in Omaha, Nebraska ahead of a rally Tuesday night across the border in Iowa, the thrice-married Mr. Trump said that his own marital indiscretions were also fair game in the campaign.

Spending on campaign

Mr. Trump also said that he plans to spend at least $2 million a week on television advertising in the first three voting states, a move that would mark a massive departure for a candidate who has so far relied on free media to fuel his insurgent campaign. Mr. Trump has spent nothing on television advertising to date, and just over $300,000 on radio ad time, according to advertising tracker Kantar Media’s CMAG far less than his rivals. Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, for example, has spent more than $40 million, but trails Mr. Trump and several other candidates.