Trump’s internal dialogue still has a market mentality:
I do everything for my ma…friend Putin, so he’ll do for me what I ask in return.
Why he thinks his possible re-election is needed in the equation is unclear to me, I mean he can ask for the fellow’s release right now?
Or is there perhaps some enticing cookie he can offer friend Putin in secret once Trump is president? Hmm? Without access to the White House he can’t deliver? Hmmm.