Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky said he thinks America is “about done” with Republican presidential rival Donald Trump, saying there isn’t much appetite in the country for “some sort of buffoon” who insults women.
“I think America’s about done with him,” Mr. Paul said Thursday on Fox News’ “America’s Newsroom.” “I think we’re about ready to get over and move on, and I sensed that in the debate because there was such a silliness and a lack of seriousness on his part that really, I think, America is going to be done with him.”
Mr. Paul predicted the debate is going to “reshuffle the pack” and that he thinks it’s the beginning of people starting to talk about real issues.
“I think the sophomoric sort of gibes — I mean, his insult to Carly Fiorina was just, I think way over the top,” Mr. Paul said. “Nobody in America thinks you want some sort of buffoon who insults women and calls them ugly — nobody wants that, and I think the first time people hear that, some people will laugh at sophomoric jokes, and I think they have for a few months now.”
“But I think the laughing’s over and now it’s almost become pitiful, and I think really it’s at the point where people are ready to move on,” he said.
Mr. Paul said he was very pleased with his performance in the debate.
“We think the characters are going to reshuffle, and I think at this point you’re going to be surprised that in about a week, there’s going to be a whole new ballgame going on,” he said. “I’m not saying I’m going to be top yet, but there’s going to be a whole new ballgame in about a week.”
Mr. Trump went after Mr. Paul early on during Wednesday’s debate, saying Thursday on “Fox and Friends” he did so because he had heard Mr. Paul was planning to come after him, but also saying that they got along very well after the early stages.
Mr. Trump said during the debate that Mr. Paul shouldn’t even be on the stage.
“He’s number 11, he’s got 1 percent in the polls, and how he got up here — there’s far too many people anyway,” Mr. Trump said.
Mr. Paul said in response Wednesday there’s a “sophomoric quality” that’s entertaining about Mr. Trump.
“I think really there’s a sophomoric quality that is entertaining about Mr. Trump, but I am worried, I’m very concerned about having him in charge of the nuclear weapons,” said Mr. Paul. “I think his response, his visceral response to attack people on their appearance — short, tall, fat, ugly — my goodness, that happened in junior high. Are we not way above that? Would we not all be worried to have someone like that in charge of the nuclear arsenal?”
Mr. Trump responded, saying of Mr. Paul: “I never attacked him on his look and believe me, there’s plenty of subject matter right there.”
• David Sherfinski can be reached at dsherfinski@washingtontimes.com.
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