Inside the Failing Mission to Tame Donald Trump’s Tongue

David Axelrod ?@davidaxelrod Aug 13 Michigan, USA

These are two of the most brutal pieces I've seen at this stage in a presidential campaign. http://mobile.nytimes.com/2016/08/14/us/politics/donald-trump-campaign-gop.html?_r=1&referer= … http://bigstory.ap.org/2faea10578944e11be20eb4824cd29ad …


Inside the Failing Mission to Tame Donald Trump’s Tongue

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Donald J. Trump at a rally in Altoona, Pa., on Friday. Dismissing accounts that Mr. Trump was downcast, a spokesman pointed to the crowds the nominee draws.
Mark Makela for The New York Times
By ALEXANDER BURNS and MAGGIE HABERMAN
August 13, 2016

Donald J. Trump was in a state of shock: He had just fired his campaign manager and was watching the man discuss his dismissal at length on CNN. The rattled candidate’s advisers and family seized the moment for an intervention.

Joined by his daughter Ivanka and her husband, Jared Kushner, a cluster of Mr. Trump’s confidants pleaded with him to make that day — June 20 — a turning point.

He would have to stick to a teleprompter and end his freestyle digressions and insults, like his repeated attacks on a Hispanic federal judge. Paul Manafort, Mr. Trump’s campaign chairman, and Gov. Chris Christie of New Jersey argued that Mr. Trump had an effective message, if only he would deliver it. For now, the campaign’s polling showed, too many voters described him in two words: “unqualified” and “racist.”

Mr. Trump bowed to his team’s entreaties, according to four people with detailed knowledge of the meeting, who described it on the condition of anonymity. It was time, he agreed, to get on track.................

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