Trump: NH newspaper ‘dying’ after fight with me

by Mark Hensch - 12/30/15 10:39 AM ET

Donald Trump said Wednesday that New Hampshire’s largest newspaper is on its last legs after publicly battling him.

“The dying @UnionLeader newspaper in NH is in turmoil over my comments about them – like a bully that got knocked out!” he tweeted of the New Hampshire Union-Leader.

{mosads}“Joe McQuaid (@deucecrew) is desperately trying to sell the @UnionLeader,” Trump added, citing the paper’s publisher. “It’s a loser, and my comments haven’t helped him much.”

The GOP presidential front-runner also accused McQuaid of hurting New Hampshire’s media coverage with underhanded tactics late Tuesday night.

“The great people of New Hampshire, who I love, are not properly served by the dying Union Leader newspaper,” he tweeted.

“Joe McQuaid (@deucecrew) of the dying Union Leader wanted ads, lunches, donations, speeches from me, and tweets – very unethical,” Trump wrote.

Trump’s remarks are part of an escalating feud with McQuaid and the newspaper that began last weekend.

The Union-Leader fired the first shot by publishing a front-page op-ed criticizing Trump’s 2016 White House run on Dec. 27.

“Trump has shown himself to be a crude blowhard with no clear political philosophy and no deeper understanding of the important and serious role of president of the United States than one of the goons he lets rough up protesters in his crowds,” McQuaid wrote.

Trump responded by calling McQuaid a “real low-life” and accusing him of collusion with Gov. Chris Christie (R-N.J.). The Union-Leader endorsed Christie for president last month, ahead of New Hampshire’s first-in-the-nation primary on Feb. 9.

Trump has charged that the publication’s support is futile.

“Chris can’t win because of his past,” he told WMUR on Monday. “New Jersey ranks 50 out of all 50 states economically. The state’s a disaster.”

Trump leads Christie by 15 points in New Hampshire, according to the latest RealClearPolitics average of samplings. The outspoken billionaire also enjoys a 17-point edge over other Republican candidates nationally.