Only Trump can hand Clinton victory

With the presidential debates over, polls give Hillary Clinton a clear lead over Donald Trump, deserted by fellow Republicans and accused daily by a stream of young women of having assaulted them. Meanwhile, the Democrats exude relief that hardly anyone in America’s largely obedient and deeply biased media has reported the extent of their own dirty tricks campaign against Mr Trump, or how Mrs Clinton was sawn off at the knees in the Las Vegas debate when asked about all the dodgy regimes, tyrants, homophobes and bigots who have donated money to her family’s foundation.

I wouldn’t bet on Mr Trump winning: he has dug a cemetery-full of his own graves. However, the widespread loathing of Mrs Clinton, the dubious record of US pollsters, and the Brexit effect – which sees people who never normally vote turn out to protest against the regular political class – mean that I wouldn’t bet on his losing either. America is in a far worse state – economically, socially and morally – than those who do not live there realise. Mrs Clinton appears to have the answers to none of those problems, so can win only thanks to an opponent who entirely self-destructs.