Clinton is resting, not prepping for debate

President George H.W. Bush conspicuously checked his watch.

“Schale helped President Barack Obama win the state in 2008 and 2012 and says presidential campaigns are never going to be pretty in Florida”.

Trump held a town hall in New Hampshire Thursday night – but scorned preparing for the debate.

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The town hall in Sandown where the Trump event was held is the same spot where on June 30 of previous year New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie held his first rally in the Granite State after formally announcing his bid for the Republican presidential nomination at an event back home earlier that day. The candidates will have two minutes to respond, and there will be an additional minute for the moderator to facilitate further discussion.

After that brief blip where everyone freaked out about tightening polls, the presidential race is returning to where it was a few weeks ago, before Hillary Clinton’s pneumonia collapse.

Speaking to reporters Thursday, Clinton campaign manager Robby Mook emphasized that the chief concern is the safety of Florida citizens and the campaign’s army of paid staff and volunteers working in the key state.

Trump also told the New York Post’s Page Six that he does not plan to bring up Bill Clinton’s sexual history during the debate, something he had threatened to do if Hillary Clinton continues to bring up the disparaging comments he has made about women over the years. He knocked journalists John Harwood and John King, as well as the media in general and even the Commission on Presidential Debates. Still, Trump adviser Peter Navarro said he believes his candidate will be energized by engaging with voters.

Regardless of his reasoning, the performance Trump put on in front of a very friendly New Hampshire crowd – it was invite-only, conservative radio host Howie Carr served as the moderator, and all questions were submitted in writing in advance – should make any Republican hoping for a bounce-back for the GOP nominee on Sunday night very nervous.

Asked if the nomination of Trump, who has veered from mainstream Republican tradition on a number of fronts, including his penchant for making overtly racist and sexist remarks, now defines the Republican Party, Walker said, “I think it defines the nominee”.

The Democrat improved her standing to 45 per cent support compared with 40 per cent for her Republican rival Trump in a four-way race that includes lesser-known candidates Gary Johnson and Jill Stein, according to the latest Quinnipiac University poll.

“I said, ‘Forget debate prep.’ I mean, give me a break”, said Trump, who mocked Clinton for spending days preparing.

It’s a town hall format, with undecided voters asking half the questions.

While the vice presidential debate was the least watched since 2000, the first showdown between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump drew the most viewers of any presidential debate.

Bush’s town hall moment was better for him than the moment people remember from his father’s 1992 debate.