Paris - Arab Today
The prospect Donald Trump could become president of the United States is “a big worry,” Alain Juppe, the pollsters favorite to become President of France next year, was quoted as saying on Wednesday.
“I don’t know Mr.Trump, but there’s a questionmark and a big worry,” Juppe, who hopes to be the main candidate of the country’s center right in April’s presidential elections, told the magazine Paris Match.
“His total ignorance of Europe, his disdain for France, his isolationist and protectionist points of view, his outrageous simplifications, his constant changes of tack, are a real concern. But it is for the people of the United States to choose.”
Separately, reports said that Republican Mike Pence was calm and steady in the face of Democrat Tim Kaine’s fiery and frequent challenges on Tuesday. But when it came to defending Trump, Pence dodged, sidestepped or was silent about some of his running mate’s most provocative words.
Kaine aggressively pressured Pence to vouch for Trump throughout the 90-minute debate, often citing the brash businessman’s own words. Pence defended Trump’s tax history, but maneuvered around criticism of Trump’s demeaning comments about women, his public doubting of President Barack Obama’s citizenship and broader questions about temperament.
“I can’t imagine how Gov. Pence can defend the insult-driven, me-first style of Donald Trump,” said Kaine, the Virginia senator and Hillary Clinton’s No. 2.
The usually easygoing Kaine went on the attack from the start and seemed determined to make the debate a referendum on whether Trump has the disposition for the Oval Office. He slammed Trump for having called women pigs and slobs, and condemned the GOP nominee’s praise of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Pence frequently avoided taking the bait — a shrewd move for a conservative darling who could have eyes on the Oval Office himself if Trump loses in November. But for voters seeking assurances from Pence about Trump’s temperament, there was little to cling to.
Source: Arab News