WASHINGTON — Cable television producers’ daydreams of a Bernie Sanders-Donald Trump debate were dashed Friday afternoon when Trump finally pulled out of what he called an “easy payday.”
For days, the two had publicly weighed such an unusual spectacle after Trump mentioned the possibility during an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel’s late-night show. Trump blamed his withdrawal on “the fact that the Democratic nominating process is totally rigged and crooked Hillary Clinton and (Democratic National Committee chair) Deborah Wasserman Schultz will not allow Bernie Sanders to win.” Trump added that it would be “inappropriate that I would debate the second-place finisher.”
Sanders seemed more than willing, even as he would have infuriated many in the Democratic establishment. “I hope that he changes his mind,” Sanders said at a campaign stop near the Inglewood Oil Field. ”