The current average of polls by website RealClearPolitics puts her at 45.6% support, compared to Trump’s 42.8%.
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Standing in front of a row of American flags and white pillars resembling those at the White House, Hillary Clinton touted support from national security leaders, reminded the country of her role in killing Osama bin Laden, and chastised – with a touch of theatrical flare – her Republican opponent as clueless and entirely out of his element.
Clinton made her remarks at an LGBT fundraiser in NY late Friday.
Clinton’s rhetorical stumble came as the candidates head into the final two months of the campaign, with Trump trying to make up ground before the November 8 election.
In a statement Saturday, Clinton said that, “many of Trump’s supporters are hard-working Americans who just don’t feel like the economy or our political system are working for them”. “Trump admitted to supporting the Iraq war in 2002 before the war began though he did progressively change his decision publicly within the next year”, it says.
“These are the desperate attacks of a flailing campaign sinking in the polls, and characteristics of someone woefully unfit for the presidency of the US”, Jason Miller, senior communications adviser for Trump, said.
“Make Trump president of America, ‘” she said in excerpts released ahead of the full interview.
“I believe with all my heart that putting a lid on Iran’s nuclear weapons program has made Israel safer; has made the region safer; prevented a nuclear arms race”, Clinton said.
“The media is so terribly dishonest”, Trump said, criticizing reporters who called him out for repeating the claim that he opposed the war during a forum in NY on Wednesday night.
Clinton made her comments at an LGBT fundraiser in NY late Friday, adding that Trump supporters are “The racist, sexist, homophobic, xenophobic, Islamaphobic – you name it”.
The Trump education plan would use a block grant – sent to states – to support 11 million poor children. She had called Trump supporters racists and sexists and homophobes before; she just hadn’t put a number on it.
“The effect of the Republican and Democratic conventions on the presidential race has run its course”.
Clinton offered a half apology in a Saturday statement, saying she regrets lumping so many Trump supporters into one category, but stood by her characterization of aspects of the Trump campaign as “deplorable”.
But the moment recalled comments about voters – also at private fundraisers – that have tripped up presidential nominees in the past. Others have drawn a comparison between Clinton’s comments and those made by Mitt Romney during the 2012 presidential election, when footage leaked of the candidate saying that 47 percent of Americans live off of government handouts and don’t pay any taxes. She referred to an essay written by Matt Olsen, the former National Counterterrorism Center director, who has argued that by making the Muslim religion a campaign issue, he has given jihadists a great gift.
During the 2008 Democratic primary, then-Sen.
Her words on Thursday seemed to connect with members of the mostly black audience, who applauded and raised their hands in affirmation of many of her comments.
During a spirted speech focused on the LGBT community, Clinton also made a joke that referenced conversion therapy, type of counseling created to urge gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender children to change their sexual orientation. “At the very least, if you know anybody who’s even thinking of voting for Trump, stage an intervention”.
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Trump concluded his brief remarks speaking to Schlafly, saying, “we will never, ever let you down”.
