In explaining why he is the most reliably conservative candidate running in the Republican primary, Donald Trump on 'Today' hewed tightly to his new favorite phrase: I'm a common-sense conservative. Trump's new catchphrase: I'm a common-sense conservative

In explaining why he is the most reliably conservative candidate running in the Republican primary, Donald Trump on Wednesday hewed tightly to his new favorite phrase: I’m a common-sense conservative.

During a telephone interview with NBC’s “Today,” the Manhattan real estate mogul responded to a barrage of questions on conservatives’ lingering apprehension about him on issues ranging Planned Parenthood to the state of affairs in Iraq. At last Saturday’s debate, for instance, Trump remarked that Planned Parenthood “does do wonderful things but not as it relates to abortion,” after Texas Sen. Ted Cruz criticized him for his past remarks praising the organization.


Trump told co-anchor Willie Geist on Wednesday that he will continue calling things like he sees them.

“Every poll said that I won the debate, as you know,” Trump said, noting that he won informal online polls on Drudge Report and on Time magazine’s website. “I’m pro-life, I have, you know, a great record of being a conservative. But I’m also a common-sense conservative, Willie, as we discussed before. You know, we have to do things with common sense, but certainly I’m the most conservative person there is on the border, and on security and on the military, on taking care of our vets, who are being taken care of horribly. I’m the most conservative person there is.”

When Geist pointed out that is likely in the minority of Republicans who hold a negative opinion of President George W. Bush’s time in office, particularly his decision to invade Iraq to take out Saddam Hussein, Trump defended his criticism along the same lines.

“When you look at the migration, when you look at all of the problems in the Middle East, it all started by going into Iraq. And I’m honest,” Trump explained. “Whether it’s Republican or not Republican. I say common sense, but I’m honest. We made a horrible decision when we went into Iraq. I mean, it’s as simple as that.”

The conversation then pivoted to Trump’s continued threat to sue Cruz over his eligibility to be president based on his birth in Canada. Co-anchor Savannah Guthrie asked the candidate why he has not done so yet.

“Well I may do that. I mean, he was born in Canada. He lived there for three or four years. He lived there for a long time. Until 15 months ago, he was a citizen of Canada,” he declared, referring to Cruz renouncing his dual citizenship in 2014.

Trump indicated later that he and his lawyers are “looking at it.”