Trump knocks Romney strategist

Donald Trump is going after Stuart Stevens, the top strategist for former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney’s 2012 Republican presidential campaign.

“Political strategist Stuart Stevens,who led Romney down the tubes in what should have been an easy victory,has terrible political instincts!” Trump tweeted.

Political strategist Stuart Stevens,who led Romney down the tubes in what should have been an easy victory,has terrible political instincts!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 5, 2015

His remark came after Stevens suggested the real estate tycoon’s 2016 Republican White House bid won’t make it to the Iowa caucuses early next year.

“I don’t think he’s going to be on the ballot by Feb. 1,” Stevens said during an interview Monday with Jake Tapper on CNN’s “The Lead.”

“The greatest sin in his value system is to be a loser, and most people who run for president lose. I don’t think he’ll risk it,” Stevens added.

He reiterated that sentiment during another segment on MSNBC’s “Hardball.”

After Trump hit the strategist on Twitter, Stevens retweeted him, adding, “Mr. Trump, we both have received the same number of votes for President. If that changes, we can discuss.”