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WASHINGTON, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- Former Fox News chairman Roger Ailes has recently joined Donald Trump's campaign to help the Republican nominee prepare his first debate with Hillary Clinton, according to U.S. media reports.
Presently, both Ailes and Trump are highly controversial figures in the limelight. The Fox News founder is facing allegations of sexual harassment by former female employees and resigned from the media group on July 21, the New York Times reported Tuesday.
Quoting anonymous sources, the report said Ailes's role was more like that of a crucial adviser than just a debate coach for Trump, whose support rate, according to recent surveys, is now lower than Hillary's.
The nominees of the two parties will face their first debate on Sept. 26 at Hofstra University on Long Island, New York.
Though Trump has denied that Ailes was formally involved in his debate preparation, another report by the Washington Post said the two men are good old friends and share similar political opinions on some issues, for example, they both support stricter immigration rules.
Skilled at raising questions and getting witty answers, Ailes has worked with President Ronald Reagan in 1984 for a debate with Vice President Walter Mondale and prepared Vice President George H.W. Bush for debates with Gov. Michael Dukakis of Massachusetts in 1988.
