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Des Moines — Hillary Clinton had some of her strongest words yet for presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump, saying on Thursday that he is “not qualified” to be president of the US.
In an interview with CNN, the Democratic front-runner and likely nominee questioned Trump’s ability to handle complex foreign policy challenges, decrying what she described as his “irresponsible, reckless, dangerous comments.”
Clinton cited recent comments from Trump criticising Great Britain, praising the leader of North Korea and questioning America’s membership in the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, or Nato. She said she knows “how hard this job is” and added that she had “concluded he’s not qualified to be president of the United States.”
Trump responded on Thursday on his website, saying Clinton “has bad judgement and is unfit to serve as President at this delicate and difficult time in our country’s history.”
Looking ahead to the general election, Clinton asserted that she “will be the nominee” for the Democratic party, noting her lead in delegates and votes over her Democratic opponent Bernie Sanders.
“That’s already done in effect. There’s no way that I won’t be,” said Clinton, who is 90 delegates short of clinching the nomination, though Sanders continues to win contests and has vowed to march on to the Democratic convention in July.
On divisions among Democrats, Clinton said she was committed to party unity, but argued that Sanders will also have to play a role in bringing Democrats together. She recalled that in 2008, after losing the primary to President Barack Obama, she endorsed him and campaigned for him.
“Whatever differences we may have, they pale in comparison to the Republican nominee,” Clinton said.
Asked if she should reach out to Sanders to work things out, Clinton said: “I’m absolutely committed to doing my part.
“But Sen Sanders has to do his part.”
She declined to say whether she’d consider Sanders for her running mate if she wins the nomination.
Sanders spokesperson Michael Briggs disputed the suggestion that the primary race was over.
“In the past three weeks voters in Indiana, West Virginia and Oregon respectfully disagreed with Secretary Clinton,” he said.
“We expect voters in the remaining nine contests also will disagree. And with almost every national and state poll showing Sen Sanders doing much, much better than Secretary Clinton against Donald Trump, it’s clear that millions of Americans have growing doubts about the Clinton campaign.”
Clinton said she was ready to take on Trump, but vowed to keep the conversation focused on issues and her record, rather than personal attacks.
“He can say whatever he wants to say,” she said, later adding that if “you pick a fight with a bully, you know, you’re going to be pulled down to their levels.”
Clinton said she would not engage with Trump when he takes shots at her husband, former President Bill Clinton. “No, I know that that’s exactly what he’s fishing for. I’m not going to be responding,” Clinton said.
Clinton also spoke about the EgyptAir Flight 804, which crashed into the Mediterranean Sea early on Thursday, saying it “does appear it was an act of terrorism” and it “shines a very bright light on the threat that we face.”
Meanwhile, Clinton’s lead over Trump has narrowed since he became the apparent winner of the Republican presidential nomination, according to a national poll out yesterday.
The CBS News/New York Times survey found that 47 percent of registered voters would support Clinton, while 41 percent back Trump.
The same survey gave better odds to Bernie Sanders — Clinton’s rival for the Democratic presidential nod — showing him leading Trump 51 percent to 38 percent.
Last month, the former US secretary of State, in a CBS News poll, led Trump by 10 points.
The phone survey of 1,300 adults had a margin of error of plus-or-minus three percentage points, the Times said.
Trump became the presumptive Republican presidential nominee earlier this month, when the last of his rivals dropped out of the race, after he amassed what appeared to be an insurmountable lead in delegate support.
Republican Party leaders hold their convention to formally select their nominee in July.
Clinton remains locked in a primary fight-to-the-finish with Sanders, but her commanding delegate lead over the Vermont senator appears sufficient to propel her to the nomination when Democratic Party grandees hold their convention, which also takes place in July. — AFP
Online Reporter