In Hillary Clinton's new tell-all book, "What Happened," the 2016 presidential also-ran reveals, in part, how she felt about Donald Trump's debate style.
She was particularly unnerved by Trump's behavior during their second, town hall-style debate in St. Louis, Missouri. In that contest, Trump intimidatingly stood behind Clinton as she answered questions. He made sure the camera saw him. I was in the press room in St. Louis at the time and clearly remember reporters around me expressing their shock at Trump's behavior.
"Moring Joe" is the first to obtain excerpts from Clinton's bombshell book (although I wonder how, considering the anchors were not Clinton's biggest fans.)
Coming up, we'll have a Morning Joe Exclusive on Hillary Clinton's new book, and here is a first look of Clinton discussing a debate. pic.twitter.com/xRkgcoTnKw
— Morning Joe (@Morning_Joe) August 23, 2017
"My skin crawled," Clinton writes. "It was one of those moments where you wish you could hit pause and ask everyone watching 'well, what would you do?'"
She continued to offer her analysis.
"Do you stay calm, keep smiling and carry on as if he weren't repeatedly invading your space? Or do you turn, look him in the eye and say loudly and clearly: 'Back up you creep, get away from me. I know you love to intimidate women, but you can't intimidate me, so back up.'"
Reflecting on it, Clinton says she wishes she would have told him off.
"It certainly would have been better TV. Maybe I have over-learned the lesson of staying calm, biting my tongue, digging my finger nails into a clenched fist, smiling all the while, determined to present a composed face to the world," she said.
Clinton claims her book is a chance for her to dwell on the "humbling" experience. However, in the pages of "What Happened" she is also expected to blame Russia, James Comey, sexism, the DNC and just about everyone else for her sound defeat.