Hillary Clinton campaign manager Robby Mook worried Monday about a "double standard" in post-debate coverage that would favor Republican opponent Donald Trump.
Democrats have openly fretted that the debate performance of Trump, who has far less experience on such a platform than Clinton, will be graded on a "curve." Even seasoned debaters like Clinton, Mook said on The Today Show, are not used to going up against someone like Trump.
"I don’t see this so much as winning and losing, but more about how these candidates have an opportunity to present to the American people whether they are prepared to be president of the United States," Mook said.
"All that we’re asking from Donald Trump is that he stick with the facts, that he give clear plans, and that he have a command of the issues," he continued. "That’s how we think that the candidates should be judged. That’s how they’ve been judged in the past. What we don’t want to have is some sort of double standard where Donald Trump can get the "Most Improved" award, but Hillary Clinton is getting judged on the fine points of policy."
Democrats and liberal press members panned NBC’s Matt Lauer after his moderator performance at the "Commander in Chief" forum on Sept. 7, for what they viewed was harsh questioning of Clinton and soft handling of Trump.