Donald J. Trump wants voters in New Hampshire to know that he is tight with New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady.
In the wake of the second GOP debate, Mr. Trump played the Brady card at a town hall meeting in the Granite State, touting the four-time Super Bowl champion’s support as more proof that his campaign is marching down field in the nomination race.
The mere mention of Mr. Brady’s name sparked applause from the crowd that gathered in Rochester on Thursday night.
“Tom is a this incredible guy, total champion and didn’t even want to tell me about it — he endorsed me yesterday,” Mr. Trump said. “Right, everybody up here knows.”
“When you get Tom, you are getting a champ and he is a great champ,” he said.
Reporters this week spotted a pro-Trump “Make America Great Again” hat in Mr. Brady’s locker this week and asked him whether Mr. Trump has what it takes to win the GOP nomination.
“I hope so,” Mr. Brady said. “That would be great. There’d be a putting green on the White House lawn. I know that.”
Mr. Trump was a vocal supporter of Mr. Brady during the months-long “Deflategate” scandal, which pitted the three-time Super Bowl MVP against NFL Commissioner Robert Goodell.
A federal judge this month ruled in Mr. Brady’s favor, lifting a four-game suspension that was tied to accusations that he tampered with footballs during the playoffs last year.
The NFL is appealing the decision.
Mr. Brady, meanwhile, led the New England Patriots past the Pittsburgh Steelers last weekend and hopes to deliver another win Sunday against the Buffalo Bills, a division rival and a team that has never won a NFL championship.
• Seth McLaughlin can be reached at smclaughlin@washingtontimes.com.
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