‘If you’re going to run for president,’ Bossie said, ‘you have to know lots of little things and lots of big things.’ The little things were filing deadlines, the state rules for primaries — minutiae. ‘You have to know the policy side, and how to win delegates.’ But first, he said, ‘you need to understand the conservative movement.’
Trump nodded. ‘You’ve got some problems on issues,’ Bossie said. ‘I don’t have any problems on issues,’ Trump said. ‘What are you talking about?’ First off, there’s never been a guy win a Republican primary that’s not pro-life,’ Bossie said. ‘And unfortunately, you’re very pro-choice.’
‘What does that mean?’
‘You have a record of giving to the abortion guys, the pro-choice candidates. You’ve made statements. You’ve got to be pro-life, against abortion.’
‘I’m against abortion,’ Trump said. ‘I’m pro-life.’
‘Well, you’ve got a track record.’ ‘That can be fixed,’ Trump said. ‘You just tell me how to fix that. I’m — what do you call it? Pro-life. I’m pro-life, I’m telling you.’
(...)
An hour into the meeting, Bossie said, ‘We have another big issue.’ ‘What’s that?’ Trump asked, seeming a little more wary. ‘Well,’ he said, ‘80 percent of the donations that you’ve given have been to Democrats.’ To Bossie that was Trump’s biggest political liability, though he didn’t say so.
‘That’s bull$#@!!’ ‘There’s public records,’ Bossie said. ‘There’s records of that?’ Trump said in utter astonishment. ‘Every donation you’ve ever given.’ Public disclosure of all political giving was standard. ‘I’m always even,’ Trump said. He divided his donations to candidates from both parties, he said. ‘You actually give quite a bit. But it’s 80 percent Democratic. Chicago, Atlantic City . . .’
‘I’ve got to do that,’ Trump said. ‘All these $#@!ing Democrats run all the cities. You’ve got to build hotels. You’ve got to grease them. Those are people who came to me … I can be the nominee,’ Trump said. ‘I can beat these guys. I don’t care who they are. I got this. I can take care of these other things.’ Each position could be revisited, renegotiated. ‘I’m pro-life,’ Trump said. ‘I’m going to start.’
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