CINCINNATI -- Dear Donald: This is no way to win fans in the Tri-State.
Of course, maybe it's a sign he thinks Pennsylvania matters more?
Donald Trump, the Republican presidential candidate, twirled a Terrible Towel during a campaign stop Monday night in Ambridge, just outside Pittsburgh.
That towel doesn't hold a lot of fond memories for Bengals fans, Donald.
He also said Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (who also played at Miami University) is "a friend," the Washington Post reports.
"We love Big Ben," Trump told his audience Monday. "Big Ben is a friend of mine."
He told a story about a golf outing with Roethlisberger, saying the burly quarterback hit a shot that went right into "a massive tree."
"The ball hit the tree so hard, I swear, I said, 'Ben, within two years that tree is going to be dead,'" Trump continued. "And you know what? Two years later … that tree was dead. He is a strong guy, and a good guy, too. Big Ben."
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Many online commenters pointed to the awkward timing of Trump's praise: Roethlisberger has twice been involved in legal proceedings cases concerning rape accusations.
And, of course, Trump's been dogged by lewd comments he made about women in 2005; leaked video footage reveals he made boasts amounting to sexual assault. Trump has since apologized for the comments and denied doing the things he said he did.
Trump is holding his first Cincinnati campaign rally Thursday, at U.S. Bank Arena. We hope he'll sport some orange and black when he's there.
