'Cracking under that stress': CNN conservative nose dives as he tries to spin Trump debate

A Republican strategist's attempt to blame former President Donald Trump's disastrous debate performance on ABC News moderators and defend his mental faculties blew up in face on CNN Friday morning.

Conservative Scott Jennings fielded tough questions from anchor Jim Acosta about Trump's decision to "back down" from a second debate against Vice President Kamala Harris — and his repetition of strange conspiracy theories — as panelist Paul Begala, a liberal political commentator, looked on with a wide smile.

"If he agreed to another debate, it is entirely likely that the moderators would be even harder on him than the last ones," Jennings declared. "What good is going to come of it for the Republicans?"

Begala told Jennings to run laps — an exercise he gives his kids when they lose a sports game and whine about the referee — then told the conservative his views on the debate.

"The moderators were fine — they fact-checked Trump three or four times, he lied 33 times," Begala said. "The problem is Trump, we all know that."

Jennings tried to argue Harris had lied her way through the debate but was unable to prevent Begala from delivering walloping advice for Trump — that he needed a muted mic even when he was speaking.

Begala listed numerous false or questionable claims Trump made — that Haitian immigrants are eating pets, that he might consider a national abortion ban and that he has a "concept of a plan" for health care — then argued they hurt the Republican nominee less than his demeanor.

"Trump's brand used to be strength," Begala said. "He just looked pathetic and weak and that's not a good look for Donald Trump."

It was at this point Acosta felt compelled to enter into the conversation and ask Jennings about false claims Trump made at a recent rally including that schools operating on children without parents' consent and, again, that immigrants were eating pets.

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"There's real-world consequences to that rhetoric as a Springfield, Ohio newspaper reports that recent bomb threats came from someone who mentioned frustration with the city over Haitian immigration issues," Acosta said

"This stuff can lead to real violence...shouldn't there be a conversation about whether Trump should step aside?"

Jennings immediately replied "No, come on."

But his pivot to Harris' unconventional path to the Democratic National Convention — where President Joe Biden was expected to accept his party's nomination until a poor debate performance spurred fatal campaign concerns about his age — did not appear to impress Acosta.

"I remember you going on and on about President Biden," Acosta interrupted. "Do you think that Trump is all there?" Is he of sound mind? He's talking about people stealing geese."

Jennings asserted Trump was the politician he always had been, but Begala disagreed.

"He needs a check-up from the neck up, okay?" Begala said. "He is under enormous stress and he's cracking under that stress. That's what's happening here, and I think it's sad."

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