Trump pulls the plug on debating Sanders, despite promise of an ‘easy payday’

WASHINGTON – Cable television producers’ daydreams of a Bernie Sanders-Donald Trump debate were dashed Friday afternoon when Trump finally pulled out of what he called an “easy payday.”

For days, the two had publicly weighed such an unusual spectacle after Trump mentioned the possibility during an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel’s late-night show.

Trump blamed his withdrawal on “the fact that the Democratic nominating process is totally rigged and crooked Hillary Clinton and (Democratic National Committee chair) Deborah Wasserman Schultz will not allow Bernie Sanders to win.”

Trump added that it would be “inappropriate that I would debate the second-place finisher.”

Sanders seemed more than willing, even as he would have infuriated many in the Democratic establishment.

“I hope that he changes his mind,” Sanders said at a campaign stop near the Inglewood Oil Field. “Mr. Trump is known to change his mind many times in a day. Well, Mr. Trump, what are you afraid of? Why do you not want to see a debate here in California?”

Sanders said he has plenty of questions for Trump about his insults of Muslims, Mexicans and women.

Trump had said he would debate Sanders if he could raise $10 million for charity, but it was never clear how serious he was about the whole thing.

The debate would have added yet another unprecedented moment to the 2016 campaign: Sanders’ odds of winning the Democratic nomination are dubious at best.