ABC has ended its debate partnership with the New Hampshire Union Leader — and Donald Trump is taking credit.
An ABC source confirmed to the Washington Examiner that the network will no longer be working with the publication to co-brand the Feb. 6 event.
The Union Leader’s “very public” and “very aggressive” campaign of editorials on the front of the newspaper against Trump factored in the decision, the source said.
The person also cited a “strained relationship” following the Democratic debate ABC hosted in December. The person said the paper didn’t bring anything to the debate editorially. The Union Leader’s role was small compared to WMUR, ABC’s affiliate in New Hampshire and IJ Review, ABC’s other partner for the debate.
“Parting ways with the Union Leader won’t have any impact on the debate,” the source said.
The ABC official said the poor relationship between the network and the paper is the main reason for cutting ties, but said its attacks on Trump were also taken into consideration.
“We’ve been tough but fair on all of the candidates this campaign season, and whether or not the Union Leader is part of this debate … its not going to influence the editorial content of the program in a couple of weeks,” the source said.
Following an unflattering editorial in December written by Joe McQuaid, publisher of the New Hampshire Union Leader, in which he compared Trump to villain Biff Tannen in “Back to the Future” movie trilogy, Trump began firing back. The GOP front-runner responded by calling the publisher “dishonest” and a “lowlife.”
The New Hampshire Union Leader endorsed New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie for president in November.
After today’s news broke, Trump took to Twitter to declare victory.
“I am pleased to announce that I had the Union Leader removed from the upcoming debate,” Trump said.
I am pleased to announce that I had the Union Leader removed from the upcoming debate. https://t.co/DL8hDPzHoi
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 10, 2016
If their highly unethical behavior, including begging me for ads, isn’t questionable enough, they have endorsed a candidate who can’t win.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 10, 2016
This is really unfair and a conflict for all the other candidates. I said it should not be allowed and ABC agreed.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 10, 2016
UL has lost all credibility under Joe McQuaid w circulation dropping to record lows. They aren’t worthy of representing the great people NH.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 10, 2016
