Trump’s swagger takes hit
Three die as fires devastate Europe
MIAMI
STRAYING from his trademark bravado, Donald Trump acknowledged yesterday his presidential campaign was facing challenges and could fall short – a rare expression of humility by the Republican presidential nominee.
Mr Trump’s most explicit concession came as he pleaded for support, at a gathering of evangelical ministers, where he observed he was “having a tremendous problem in Utah”.
The billionaire celebrity also acknowledged his lack of political correctness could cost him the election.
“We’re having a problem,” Mr Trump told the ministers.
After trouncing 16 challengers in the Republican primary, Mr Trump is encountering worrying signs as his campaign moves towards the general election.
Democrat Hillary Clinton’s lead in national polls has widened in recent days, and a number of Republicans have declared they won’t support their party’s presidential nominee.
Mr Trump’s exercise in selfawareness was a marked departure from his usual tone on the campaign trail, where for months he would tick through poll numbers showing him winning as if they were sports scores of his favourite team.
“We’re going to win so big,” he told a roaring crowd one month ago at the Republican National Convention.
Yesterday, Mr Trump was reduced to citing a poll that showed him a few points behind Mrs Clinton.
In Utah, usually a reliably Republican state, Mr Trump’s challenges have been particularly striking as the state’s large Mormon population has voiced serious scepticism about him. MARSEILLES
HUNDREDS of tourists have been caught up in the chaos as deadly wildfires tear across southern Europe.
Firefighters in southern France brought in reinforcements from across the country to help smother the last flames and douse dry brush after wind-whipped fires devastated thousands of hectares and destroyed homes but spared Marseilles, the nation’s second largest city.
“It is an absolute disaster area,” said British tourist David Roper.
Meanwhile, fire broke out in the Pyrenees-Orientales region, southwest of Marseilles.
French President Francois Hollande said some blazes had been started deliberately.
One man had been detained for questioning, French media said.
Almost 200 fires were also burning out of control in Portugal and Spain.
Two arrests were made in the deadliest of more than 100 fires in Portugal, on the island of Madeira, which killed three people.