As expected, it was another exciting and unpredictable week on the presidential campaign trail between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump.
If we must find a starting point, it may have occurred Friday evening when Clinton, addressing an LGBT event in downtown Manhattan, said that half of Trump’s supporters are a “basket of deplorables.” Without taking the quote out of context, she was merely suggesting that those individuals were “racist, sexist, homophobic, xenophobic, Islamophobic, you name it.”
Immediately, Trump leaped on the statement that even some Clinton supporters believe went too far, charging that the comment was “so insulting to my supporters,” as if he has not voiced a litany of insults to different American citizens.
Clinton apologized for the gaffe, something Trump has yet to do to the millions he has insulted.
The contest between them took a dramatic turn Sunday when Clinton collapsed while attending a 9/11 memorial event. She was taken from the site after complaining of being overheated.
Afterward it was disclosed that Friday her doctor had diagnosed her with pneumonia. On occasion Clinton has been the victim of coughing spells that may have come as a result of allergies.
At first Trump saw this development as a sign validating his accusation that she is “unfit and weak.” Subsequently, he wished her well, hoping she has a speedy recovery.
Clinton’s gaffe and health issue are sure to be seized on by the Trump campaign even if the man himself does not pounce, and it’s hard to believe he won’t during the upcoming debates.
It is yet to be seen how all of this attention will affect voters and the polls, which show Clinton up by 5 percent nationally among likely voters and even higher among registered voters. Even so, the margin of difference between her and Trump seems closer by the day.
They are practically tied in the battleground states, and each is looking to collect the votes of independents, though Libertarian candidate Gary Johnson and Green Party candidate Jill Stein are also on the hunt.
Yes, there is a growing concern about Clinton’s health, and that’s not surprising for an ailing 68-year-old candidate. But there is also some concern about Trump’s mental health.
Clinton has already shown signs of recovery and resilience. Now the nation waits to see if Trump responds to those who believe he is a “sociopath,” a “psychopath” and a “pathological liar.”
In a statement to the press Monday, he promised to reveal his medical records after a visit to his doctor.