TRUMP VS. CLINTON THE BATTLE RAGES ON
After a week on the campaign trail, touting his charitable giving and child care and maternity leave plans, GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump on Friday did the unexpected — he reversed his claims that President Barack Obama wasn’t born in the U.S., a yearslong claim that he’d long used to whip up doubts on the president’s legitimacy. But, he added his own spin — that rival Hillary Clinton had, in fact, started the so-called birther claim during her 2008 bid. Clinton, in fact, has long denounced such claims as a “racist lie.” Television new networks were expecting Trump to announce the reversal of his birther crusade, and many carried the announcement live. But 20 minutes later, viewers saw a succession of military figures voice support for the Republican candidate, in what turned out to be a free political ad. CNN’s Jake Tapper said, “We all got Rick-rolled,” while others called the move “brilliant,” especially for a candidate who has spent mere pennies on TV ads when compared to Clinton’s millions.