Donald Trump's caustic confrontation with Fox News Channel presenter Megyn Kelly at Thursday's Republican presidential debate couldn't have come at a less opportune time for a party trying to increase its appeal to women voters.
Kelly, a debate moderator, grilled Trump on his history of debasing statements about women. Trump appeared unapologetic, dismissing the critique as "political correctness," and accused Kelly of mistreating him.
Democrats were quick to try and seize advantage. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, the chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee, ripped Trump's comments as "disgusting and misogynistic" and assailed those in the debate audience who applauded him.