On the trail Supporters of Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump pose for a photograph after a campaign rally on Aug. 11 in Kissimmee, Fla.
A member of the audience holds a piece of paper that reads "social workers are with yo" as Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton greets supporters after giving a speech on the economy at Futuramic Tool & Engineering, in Warren, Mich., on Aug. 11.
James Mitchell, an Abraham Lincoln look-alike, interacts with members of the audience before an election rally by Republican vice presidential candidate Indiana Gov. Mike Pence, in Council Bluffs, Iowa, on Aug. 8, 2016.
Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton speaks at a rally at Osceola Heritage Park in Kissimmee, Fla., on Aug. 8, 2016.
Libertarian presidential candidate Gary Johnson talks to a crowd of supporters at a rally Aug. 6, 2016, in Salt Lake City.
Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, right, speaks with Southern Nevada Chapter of the National Electrical Contractors Association Executive Director Donald Campbell as she takes a tour of Mojave Electric Company in Las Vegas on Aug. 4, 2016.
Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump arrives for a rally at the Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena on Aug. 3, 2016, in Jacksonville, Fla.
Notes sit on the lectern after Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump spoke during a campaign rally at Cumberland Valley High School on Aug. 1, 2016, in Mechanicsburg, Pa.
Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton speaks at a rally at the Fort Hayes Metropolitan Education Center in Columbus, Ohio, on July 31, 2016. Clinton and running mate Tim Kaine are on a three-day bus tour through the Rust Belt.
Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump holds babies at a campaign rally in Colorado Springs on July 29, 2016.
Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton celebrates on stage after she accepted the nomination during the fourth and final night of the Democratic National Convention at the Wells Fargo Center on July 28, 2016, in Philadelphia.
Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump speaks during a campaign rally in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on July 28, 2016.
Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton hugs President Barack Obama as she arrives onstage at the end of his speech on the third night of the 2016 Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia on July 27.
Jennifer Pitta, of Scranton, Pa., shows off a tattoo of Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump during a campaign rally at Lackawanna College on July 27 in Scranton, Pa.
Audience members talk prior to an address by Donald Trump, the Republican presidential nominee, at the 117th annual VFW National Convention at the Charlotte Convention Center on July 26, 2016.
Senator Bernie Sanders waves farewell to his electoral delegates gathered at the convention center during the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia on July 25, 2016.
Democratic footwear is seen on a delegate at the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia, on July 25, 2016.
Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton and Democratic vice presidential candidate U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA) attend a campaign rally at Florida International University Panther Arena on July 23, 2016, in Miami. Clinton and Kaine made their first public appearance together a day after the Clinton campaign announced Senator Kaine as the Democratic vice presidential candidate.
Delegates fill the floor of the Republican National Convention in Cleveland July 19.
Buttons supporting Donald Trump are on display on July 20 in Cleveland, during the third day of the Republican convention.
A delegate shows off her shoes on the convention floor during the second day session of the Republican National Convention in Cleveland on July 19.
California delegate Jake Byrd reacts as New York delegate Bob Hayssen holds up a Trump flag during the second day session of the Republican National Convention in Cleveland on Tuesday.
Melania Trump, wife of Donald Trump, walks to the stage as Donald Trump introduces her during the opening day of the Republican National Convention in Cleveland on Monday.
Melania Trump, wife of Donald Trump, speaks during first day of the Republican National Convention in Cleveland on Monday.
(From left) Donald Trump Jr., Ivanka Trump & Eric Trump take part in the roll call in support of Donald Trump on the second day of the Republican National Convention on July 19 in Cleveland.
Supporters of Donald Trump attempt to obscure a protester as she interrupts the proceedings during the second day of the Republican National Convention in Cleveland on July 19.
Presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton speaks with Cornell Brooks during the 107th NAACP National Convention in Cincinnati, Ohio, on July 18, 2016.
Indiana Gov. Mike Pence speaks to the press as he and his wife Karen leave the Intercontinental Hotel to meet with Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump at Trump Tower in New York, on July 15, 2016.
Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton and Sen.Tim Kaine react during a campaign rally at Ernst Community Cultural Center in Annandale, Va., on July 14, 2016.
Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton and Sen. Bernie Sanders during a campaign rally where Sanders endorsed Clinton in Portsmouth, NH, on July 12, 2016.
People wait for presumptive Republican Presidential candidate Donald Trump to speak on veteran's issues during a campaign stop July 11, 2016 in Virginia Beach, Va.
Hillary Clinton and President Obama depart Air Force One prior to a campaign event in Charlotte, NC, on July 5, 2016.
A bagpipe player wears traditional dress next to Donald Trump as he arrives to his Trump Turnberry Resort on June 24, 2016 in Ayr, Scotland.
Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton pauses while speaking at a Rainbow PUSH Women's International Luncheon at the Hyatt McCormick in Chicago on June 27, 2016.
Evan Hubert of Kennerdell, Pa., wears socks depicting Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump as he waits to attend a Trump rally at Ohio University Eastern Campus in St. Clairsville, Ohio, on June 28, 2016.
Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders speaks about his attempts to influence the Democratic party's platform in Albany, New York, on June 24, 2016.
A supporter of presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton wears a campaign pin during a campaign event at the North Carolina State Fairgrounds on June 22, 2016 in Raleigh, NC.
Donna Burdick of Everett, Wash., carries a crochet Bernie Sanders at the Washington Democratic Convention, Friday, June 17, 2016, in Tacoma, Wash. Burdick, a delegate from Everett, crafted the life-sized upper body of Sanders, complete with tie and eyeglasses, shortly after the caucuses earlier this year. The final touches — his teeth and a bird on his shoulder — were added on Friday, the first day of the convention. She said that she brought him because Sanders is "always by my side."
Presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks at a campaign rally in Phoenix, on June 18, 2016.
Rubber masks in the likeness of Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump and Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton are seen in this arranged photograph taken at the Ozawa Studios Inc. factory, June 14, 2016 in Saitama, Japan.
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks at a campaign rally in Greensboro, N.C., on June 14, 2016.
Presumptive Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton gave a speech at the Cleveland Industrial Innovation Center, on June 13. She touched on the mass shooting in Orlando during her remarks.
Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada talks with Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders, on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., on June 9.
Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton greets workers after a stop at Uprising Muffin Company, on June 10, in Washington, D.C.
Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders pauses during an election night rally on June 7, 2016 in Santa Monica, Calif., in which Hillary Clinton laid claim to the Democratic presidential nomination.
Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton greets her husband, former president Bill Clinton during a presidential primary election night rally, June 7, 2016, in New York where she laid claim to the Democratic presidential nomination.
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump pumps his fist at the conclusion of his speech at a campaign event on the day several states held presidential primaries, including California, at the Trump National Golf Club Westchester in Briarcliff Manor, New York, on June 7, 2016
Presidential candidate Bernie Sanders speaks at a rally at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Olympic Plaza, on June 4.
Huma Abedin, longtime aide to Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, waits in the wings as Clinton makes a campaign stop in Fresno, Calif., on June 4.
Democratic Candidate Hillary Clinton speaks to and meets California voters during a rally in El Centro, Calif., on June 2, 2016.
People listen to a guest speaker as they wait for the arrival of Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump in an airplane hanger at the Sacramento International Jet Center, on June 1, 2016.
Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton talks with Sen. Cory Booker at Omar's Cafe, on June 1, 2016, in Newark, NJ.
Bernie Sanders supporter Drew Rainer dances prior to the candidate's campaign rally in Monterey, Calif., May 31, 2016.
Presidential candidate Donald Trump waves to veterans and supporters after an event at the annual Rolling Thunder "Ride for Freedom" parade ahead of Memorial Day in Washington, DC, on May 29, 2016.
Presidential candidate Bernie Sanders speaks at a rally at the Kern County Fairgrounds in Bakersfield, Calif., on Saturday, May 28, 2016.
Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton greets supporters during a campaign event, May 24, 2016 in Commerce, Calif.
Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., fixes his hair before an interview, May 23, 2016, in Los Angeles.
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump refers to former Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney, who lost the 2012 presidential election, as a "choker" at a rally with supporters in Anaheim, Calif., on May 25, 2016.
Supporters, from left, John Nelson and Dan Stifler, cheer for Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton as she speaks in Buena Park, Calif., on May 25, 2016.
Attendees hold signs as Hillary Clinton speaks during the Service Employees International Union 2016 International Convention in Detroit, on May 23.
Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders is reflected on a young girl's sunglasses as he speaks during a rally in Vista, Calif., on May 22.
A dog wears a costume to look like democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders during a campaign rally at Waterfront Park, on May 18, in Vallejo, Calif.
Supporters of Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump wait to attend a fundraising event in Lawrenceville, NJ, on May 19.
A person records presidential candidate Bernie Sanders as he addresses the audience in San Juan, Puerto Rico, on May 16.
Bastrop County delegate Mike Norman makes a photo of himself with a photo of Donald Trump during the Texas Republican Convention, on May 13, 2016, in Dallas.
Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton shares a laugh with AIDS activist Peter Staley during a meeting with a coalition of HIV/AIDS activists at her campaign headquarters in New York City, on May 12, 2016.
Democratic presidential candidate and former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is hugged by a young student while touring a KinderCare daycare center, May 9, 2016 in Fairfax, Va.
US Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders speaks during a rally in Atlantic City, New Jersey, on May 9, 2016.
Kathy Ferguson of Bellingham, Wash., protests outside a campaign stop for US Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump in Lynden, Wash., on May 7, 2016.
A young girl looks over a children's book as she attends a rally by former President Bill Clinton on behalf of his wife, Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton, during a stop in San Diego, on May 4.
Ohio Governor John Kasich speaks as he withdraws as a Republican presidential candidate in Columbus, Ohio, on May 4, 2016.
With his wife Heidi by his side, Republican presidential candidate Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) speaks during his election night watch party at the Crowne Plaza Downtown Union Station in Indianapolis, where he announced he was suspending his bid for the Republican presidential nomination on May 3, 2016.
Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders has breakfast with United Steelworkers President, Local 1999, Chuck Jones, at Peppy Grill, on May 3, 2016 in Indianapolis.
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks during a campaign stop at the Palladium at the Center for the Performing Arts, on May 2, 2016 in Carmel, Indiana.
A doll of Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton is seen in the back pocket of a man waiting for her to make a campaign stop at the Douglass Park Gynasium in Indianapolis on May 1, 2016.
A member of the Full Rights for Immigrants Coalition poses in front of a giant effigy of Republican presidential hopeful Donald Trump as they protest on May 1, 2016 in Los Angeles.
Campaign volunteers stand at the media entrance before an event for Sen. Ted Cruz in Indianapolis on April 27, 2016.
Donald Trump introduces legendary basketball coach Bobby Knight at a campaign event in Indianapolis on April 27, 2016.
Democratic candidate Bernie Sanders takes a selfie with a voter on primary election day, April 26, in Philadelphia.
Republican presidential hopeful Sen. Ted Cruz takes the stage at the Old National Events Plaza in Evansville, Ind., Sunday, April 24, 2016.
A group of Donald Trump rally attendees walk past anti-Trump protesters following a campaign rally at The Klein Memorial Auditorium in Bridgeport, Conn., April 23, 2016.
Republican presidential candidate Ohio Gov. John Kasich speaks with a supporter following a campaign rally in Annapolis, Md., April 19, 2016.
Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton takes part in a discussion with women at a campaign stop, Friday, April 22, 2016, at Curds 'n Whey cafe in Jenkintown, Pa.
Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders smiles as he sees a puppet of himself while attending the exhibit "The Art of A Political Revolution" in New York on April 16, 2016.
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump lifts his ballot while voting in the New York primary election in the Manhattan on April 19, 2016.
People vote in the New York primary elections at a polling station in Port Washington, New York, April 19, 2016.
U.S. Republican presidential candidate Ted Cruz (R) and a local youth play a game of foosball before a campaign event in Syracuse, New York, April 15, 2016.
Democratic presidential candidates Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-V.t, right, and Hillary Clinton react as they speak during the CNN Democratic Presidential Primary Debate at the Brooklyn Navy Yard, Thursday, April 14, 2016, New York.
Democratic U.S. presidential candidate Hillary Clinton listens to the Reverend Al Sharpton before Clinton's address to the National Action Network's 25th Annual Convention in New York City, April 13, 2016.
Don Erwin, 83, wears an Uncle Sam costume as he awaits Republican presidential candidate Ted Cruz arrival at a rally in San Diego, California April 11, 2016.
Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders, his wife Jane and musician Michael Stipe eat hot dogs at Nathan's Famous in Coney Island, New York on April 10, 2016.
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks during a rally at JetSmart Aviation Services on Sunday, April 10, 2016, in Rochester, N.Y.
Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton points to her stop aboard the No. 4 train with borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. as she campaigns on April 7, 2016, in the Bronx borough of New York. The former secretary of state first spoke outside Yankee Stadium before riding the subway from the 161st Street station to the 170th Street station.
Republican presidential candidate Ohio Gov. John Kasich eats lunch at Mike's Deli during a campaign stop, Thursday, April 7, 2016, in New York.
Republican presidential candidate Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, makes matzah at the Chabad Neshama Center in New York during a campaign event, Thursday, April 7, 2016.
A supporter of Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) at a rally at Temple University on April 6, 2016, in Philadelphia. Pennsylvania's Democratic Primary is scheduled for April 26.
Donald Trump is interviewed by Fox News at a George Webb diner on April 5, 2016 in Wauwatosa, Wis.
Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton works to silence a small group of Bernie Sanders supporters at SUNY Purchase on March 31, 2016 in Purchase, New York. Clinton gave a speech to both students and supporters that covered a host of domestic and international issues. New York will hold its primaries on April 19.
Republican Presidential candidate Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) laughs at a poster while speaking to guests at a town hall event called "Women for Cruz" Coalition Rollout with wife Heidi, mother Eleanor Cruz, and former Republican candidate Carly Fiorina March 30, 2016 in Madison, Wisconsin. Candidates are campaigning in Wisconsin ahead of the state's April 5th primary.
Republican presidential candidate, Ohio Gov. John Kasich eats pizza at Gino's Pizzeria on Wednesday, March 30, 2016, in the Queens borough of New York.
100/100 SLIDES
ERIE, Pa. — It's the media's fault. That's out of context. Never said it in the first place.
Donald Trump's claim Friday that he was merely being "sarcastic" in accusing President Barack Obama of establishing a terrorist group was his latest attempt to blame others for the uproar over what he says. It's an instinct that Trump's opponents say a president can't possess. Some Republicans seem to have the same concern.
This time, it followed two days of critical headlines and Democratic outrage over Trump's claim that Obama was the "founder" of the Islamic State group. As Trump repeated the claim more than a dozen times, interviewers sought to ensure Trump wasn't being misconstrued. Surely, they offered, he meant Obama's policies had enabled the extremist group's rise.
"No, I meant he's the founder of ISIS. I do," Trump said, using one acronym for the group.
Then an about-face Friday. "THEY DON'T GET SARCASM?" he tweeted.
Or was he being sarcastic about the sarcasm? Hours later, he told a rally in Pennsylvania he was "obviously being sarcastic — but not that sarcastic, to be honest with you."
That it took Trump two days to walk back his widely debunked remark — and then walk back the walk-back — was worrying for Republicans who see such missteps as playing to Democrat Hillary Clinton's advantage. Equally worrying for some was the fact that he again would not take responsibility for his words.
Ryan Williams, a Republican strategist who advised Mitt Romney's 2012 campaign, said there's a common-sense playbook for dealing with political slip-ups: "Stop the bleeding and put it behind you by apologizing.
"That's what normal candidates do," he went on. "However, normal candidates don't careen from one self-inflicted wound to another on an hourly basis."
It was only two days earlier that Trump blamed the media for making much ado about nothing after he suggested during a rally that gun rights enthusiasts might find a way to stop Clinton if elected.
Clinton, whose lead over Trump has widened in recent polls of the most competitive states, has seized on those and other eyebrow-raising comments to portray the reality TV star as lacking the temperament to run the nation — Trump has his own argument for why she's unfit to do so. She's hammered him for avoiding accountability for his actions.
© AP Photo/Evan Vucci Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks during a campaign rally, Friday, Aug. 12, 2016, in Altoona, Pa. To that end, Clinton's campaign on Friday intensified pressure on Trump to release his tax returns, while disclosing her 2015 filings and a decade of returns from her running mate. The filing shows that the Clintons earned $10.6 million and paid a federal tax rate of 34.2 percent last year.
Trump has refused to make his filings public, saying they're under audit by the Internal Revenue Service and he'll release them only once that review is complete. All major U.S. presidential candidates in modern history have released their returns.
Minutes after releasing her returns, Clinton tweeted that it's possible Trump paid no tax at all.
Trump worked to profit on the fuss over his Islamic State remark. In an email to supporters asking them to donate, Trump accused the "liberal media" of telling "outrageous lies about me."
It's no surprise that the media are Trump's go-to scapegoat. Just 6 percent of Americans said they have a great deal of confidence in the media in a Media Insight Project poll earlier this year.
Almost never does Trump admit error. One exception came this month when he acknowledged a video he said showed a plane carrying U.S. cash to Iran was actually a plane carrying U.S. hostages who were being released.
Most of the time, Trump casts blame elsewhere:
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STAR OF DAVID: In July, Trump's campaign tweeted an anti-Clinton message that seemed to show the Star of David atop a pile of cash, raising questions about anti-Semitism. When Clinton's campaign cried foul, Trump blamed her for trying to "divert attention from the dishonest behavior of herself and her husband." Also, the media.
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PAGING MOSCOW: Last month Trump caused a stir in a news conference by saying "Russia, if you're listening, I hope you're able to find the 30,000 emails" missing from Clinton. Even some Republicans questioned whether he was encouraging a foreign government to interfere in the election. Trump's response later? "Of course, I'm being sarcastic."
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CRIMEA RIVER: Heads spun in the foreign policy world when Trump said this month that Russia wouldn't enter Ukraine, seemingly unaware it already had. When an interviewer pointed out Russia had annexed Crimea, Trump said he meant Russia wouldn't dare go farther if he were president. He insisted he'd said nothing incorrect.
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ABOUT SADDAM: In July, Trump said former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein was "so good" at killing terrorists. He also suggested the Mideast would be more stable were Saddam still in power. He took offence that his comments were interpreted as praise for Saddam.
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Associated Press writers Lisa Lerer, Jill Colvin and Jonathan Lemire and AP Polling Director Emily Swanson contributed to this report.