The Slatest

Donald Trump Says Skipping Debate *Might* Have Cost Him Iowa

Second place Iowa finisher Donald Trump appeared to be in an unusually introspective mood Tuesday as the race shifted to New Hampshire. Losing, looking back, and second guessing are not familiar components of the Trump repertoire, but during an event in Milford, New Hampshire, Trump admitted skipping last week’s Fox News debate *might* have cost him first place in Iowa.

“I think it could have been the debate. I think some people were disappointed that I didn’t go into the debate,” Trump said. Lest you confuse that with admission of a mistake, Trump went on to say: “If I had to do it over again, I would have done the exact same thing.” Trump said his fundraising effort for a veterans group, which he says raked in some $6 million, was worth it even if it dropped him down a notch on the Republican leaderboard.