By Eric Stock

WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Darin LaHood, R-Dunlap, said Donald Trump started strong in Monday night’s presidential debate but had a tendency to talk himself intro trouble.

PODCAST: Listen to Scott’s interview with LaHood on WJBC.

“The one thing I wish Trump wouldn’t have done as much is, he needs to make his point and stop and not try to fill the rest of the time, LaHood said. “You don’t need to keep rambling about other things.”

LaHood told WJBC’s Scott Laughlin Trump also became overly sensitive when Clinton criticized him for not releasing his tax returns and for the loan he got him his father.

“He got a little thin-skinned on that,” LaHood said. “I don’t think he needs to be overly sensitive about it, which I think he has a tendency to do.”

LaHood said Clinton should also have to answer questions about her e-mails, Benghazi and alleged favoritism with the Clinton Foundation. He added he wanted to hear the candidates talk more about jobs, immigration and the Supreme Court. There are still two more debates planned.

Ransom

LaHood said he hopes a measure the U.S. House approved last week banning ransom payments will serve as a rebuke to the Obama administration for its recent $400 million payment to Iran.

“No president should be engaged in that policy of giving cash,” LaHood said. “There should be transparency, there should be openness when that’s being done, particularly when you think about Iran which is one of the only state sponsors of terrorism in the world.”

The measure passed mostly along party lines. The payment came on the same day several American prisoners were released. President Barack Obama has threatened to veto the measure if it gets to his desk.

Eric Stock can be reached at [email protected].