Washington Free Beacon editor Matthew Continetti said Saturday that Hillary Clinton's apparent private call for "open borders" could provide strong fodder for Donald Trump in Sunday night's town hall presidential debate.
According to leaked transcripts of speeches she reportedly made before Wall Street bankers, Clinton called for "open borders" and "open trade," in addition to suggesting Wall Street was best positioned in leading financial reform.
During their fierce primary battle, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I., Vt.) frequently called on Clinton to release the transcripts of her Wall Street speeches, some of which commanded six-figure speaking fees. Clinton's leaked comments have angered Sanders supporters for what they see as confirmation of their fears
On Fox News, Continetti said that these speeches being released during the primary might might have led to Sanders winning the nomination instead of Clinton.
"There is one general election angle to this," he said. "Two words. Open borders. That comment about her vision of a north hemisphere that has open trade, which most people agree with—of course, not Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders—but open borders as well, I think would raise a lot of eyebrows, and if the Trump campaign were able to exploit that, it could be a very effective issue for them in the debate and the final weeks."
"So you think he'll bring it up in the debate?" host Chris Stirewalt asked.
"I'm sure he'll bring it up in the debate," Continetti said.
Trump heads into the debate with his campaign embroiled in its most severe controversy yet after a 2005 recording was revealed on Friday of Trump making sexually aggressive remarks about women.
The comments were so crude that they merited an apology from Trump himself and condemnation from numerous top Republicans, including House Speaker Paul Ryan, party chairman Reince Priebus and even the candidate's own wife, Melania.
Numerous Republicans have renounced their support of Trump, including 2008 nominee Sen. John McCain (R., Ariz.).