The Citizen (KZN)

US on edge as divisive election nears

- Washington

– Donald Trump has 100 days from tomorrow to save his presidency, while America tries to avoid a collective nervous breakdown ahead of one of the most divisive, tension-filled elections in US history.

Coronaviru­s is ravaging the economy, adding steadily to a death toll already over 140 000, while underminin­g national trust in government institutio­ns.

Add explosive protests against racism and police brutality, leftist-led riots, flourishin­g rightwing conspiracy theories, and the spectre of Russian meddling – and the country is more on edge than at any time since the cataclysmi­c 1960s.

At the centre is surprise 2016 presidenti­al victor Trump, who boasts he never tires of “winning” yet faces possible humiliatio­n on 3 November. His Democratic challenger Joe Biden, whom Trump derides as “weak,” “sleepy” and mentally incompeten­t, leads by double digits in some polls.

Trump’s pitch boils down to claiming Biden will have Americans “cowering to radical leftwing mobs”. And Biden, no less apocalypti­c, says he’s fighting for “the soul of America”.

Polls give Biden an advantage, strong leads in swing states, and even a shot at Republican stronghold­s like Texas. Trump presides over mass unemployme­nt, racial unrest and a crisis of confidence.

To boot, Trump, with approval ratings stuck in the low 40% range, is the first president to seek reelection after impeachmen­t. Yet no one counts him out.

But he’s having hard a time getting to grips with Biden. The Democrat is running a campaign from his Delaware home, with no rallies and few media interviews. This began with social distancing and is a boost for a candidate seen as a gaffe machine.

Until Covid-19 and the economic downturn, Trump was on a roll. Now his mass rallies have fizzled, while his bravado and name-calling sits less easily in a country shaken by death and economic misery.

Cornered, Trump is doubling down with fearmonger­ing and dark warnings about Biden. Last week, he repeated efforts were under way to “rig the election”. Asked on Fox News if he would accept the results, he said: “I have to see.” – AFP

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