Clinton campaign vents about Trump’s ‘scorched earth’ tactics meant to drive down turnout – but still describes their opponent is ‘unfit’ to serve and brings up ‘p****’ tape 

  • Donald Trump has unleashed a series of attacks on Hillary Clinton and Bill Clinton - On Tuesday night he called her a ‘bad person’ 
  • He brought Clinton accusers to the 2nd debate
  • He also unloaded on House Speaker Paul Ryan and ‘disloyal’ Republicans 
  • A ‘high level’ supporter says the plan isn’t to expand but to fire up the base and depress overall turnout 
  • If Clinton is so discredited, disgusted partisans might stay home
  • Both candidates have record low approval ratings
  • Clinton spokeswoman Jennifer Palmieri complained to reporters traveling with Clinton about Trump’s ‘scorched earth’ tactics but said they won’t work 
  • Then she immediately called Trump ‘unfit’ and mentioned the Access Hollywood tapes where Trump talked about grabbing women by the ‘p****’ 

By By Geoff Earle, Deputy U.s. Political Editor For Dailymail.com In Pueblo, Colorado

Published: 14:32 EST, 12 October 2016 | Updated: 14:51 EST, 12 October 2016

Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign is fuming about Donald Trump’s ‘scorched earth’ campaign tactics, meant to paint Hillary Clinton as so repugnant that voters will stay home and his own loyal supporters might carry the election.

Clinton campaign spokeswoman Jennifer Palmieri blasted the tactics after a ‘high level’ Trump supporter acknowledged the strategy to try to depress turnout by going after Clinton.

Trump adopted the strategy after huddling with high level staffers inside Trump Tower the night of the release of an infamous tape that revealed Trump talking about being able to grope women because of his fame.

They adopted a ‘scorched earth’ strategy that had been held in reserve, the Journal reported.

Hillary Clinton's campaign is blasting the 'scorched earth' campaign tactics of Donald Trump, intended to sully her reputation even at the risk of hurting his own, and keep Democrats home. Sherman's men are pictured here destroying railroad tracks in Atlanta in 1864 during the Civil War

Hillary Clinton's campaign is blasting the 'scorched earth' campaign tactics of Donald Trump, intended to sully her reputation even at the risk of hurting his own, and keep Democrats home. Sherman's men are pictured here destroying railroad tracks in Atlanta in 1864 during the Civil War

The supporter was only confirming what had become a plainly visible tactic of bringing up the harshest accusations against Clinton, a strategy that always carries the risk of turning off independent or middle-of-the road voters.

Trump had hinted for weeks about bringing up Bill Clinton’s conduct at a debate. Then on Sunday night, Trump brought four Clinton accusers to the St. Louis debate – including Juanita Broaddrick, who charges that Bill Clinton raped her in 1978. 

He unloaded on Clinton Tuesday night after going after ‘weak’ House Speaker Paul Ryan, who announced he would not campaign for Trump. 

Hillary Clinton spokeswoman Jennifer Palmieri condemned the Trump campaign's 'scorched earth' strategy

Hillary Clinton spokeswoman Jennifer Palmieri condemned the Trump campaign's 'scorched earth' strategy

‘In terms of Trump’s scorched earth tactics, what we have seen in the last week is enthusiasm, mobilization going up on the Democratic side,’ Palmieri told DailyMail.com and other reporters traveling aboard Clinton’s campaign plane.

‘Obviously Hillary Clinton’s really concerned about how divisive this race has been and all that Donald Trump has done to try to divide Americans,’ Palmieri said.

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Trump, who campaigned in Wilkes-Barre on Tuesday, has repeatedly blasted 'crooked Hillary's' character and called Bill Clinton an abuser of women

Trump, who campaigned in Wilkes-Barre on Tuesday, has repeatedly blasted 'crooked Hillary's' character and called Bill Clinton an abuser of women

UNCHAINED: Trump declared Tuesday that the 'shackles have been taken off'

UNCHAINED: Trump declared Tuesday that the 'shackles have been taken off'

Trump has kept up his slashing attacks on Clinton, while also hitting 'disloyal' Republicans

Trump has kept up his slashing attacks on Clinton, while also hitting 'disloyal' Republicans

Trump said during the debate that his opponent would be in jail if he were president. A Trump supporter arrives for a campaign event in Lakeland, Florida

Trump said during the debate that his opponent would be in jail if he were president. A Trump supporter arrives for a campaign event in Lakeland, Florida

German soldiers set fire to stacks of hay during World War II. An advisor said the Trump campaign adopted a 'scorched earth' campaign strategy after the release of an explosive tape

German soldiers set fire to stacks of hay during World War II. An advisor said the Trump campaign adopted a 'scorched earth' campaign strategy after the release of an explosive tape

The ruins of Richmond in 1864. Sherman's 'March to the Sea' that began in Atlanta is considered a 'scorched earth' campaign

The ruins of Richmond in 1864. Sherman's 'March to the Sea' that began in Atlanta is considered a 'scorched earth' campaign

But just minutes after condemning Trump’s extraordinary tactics, Palmieri repeated a major Clinton campaign mantra: that Trump is ‘unfit’ to lead the nation.

‘Certainly before we learned about Access Hollywood had a lot of reasons to believe Trump is unfit to be president,’ she said.

Access Hollywood refers to the 11-year-old tape where Trump was caught crudely referring to women and talking about grabbing them by their genitals.

She blasted lawmakers such as Joe Heck in Nevada who have walked back their earlier support for Trump.

‘This is a party that has allowed these kinds of divisions in a lot of their rhetoric … for a while,’ she said.

She said Trump was able to ‘hijack’ the GOP, something she called ‘disturbing.’

GOP strategist Kevin Madden warned of the risks posed by Trump’s strategy, that while it might fire up his own base but ‘alienating his own party and swing voters won’t grow his vote. His remarks and tactics can have the adverse effect of energizing the Democratic base,’ he said.

 

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