But the later emergence of video showing her wobbly, staggering and stumbling before being helped into her black van conjured up the kind of image, played over and over on television, that campaign strategists dread.
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The episode, and the delayed disclosure, feed into Trump’s line of attack and may reinforce voter mistrust of Clinton stemming from her penchant for secrecy as well as revelations about her use of private e-mail while secretary of state and ties with donors to her family’s foundation. As a female candidate, she has proven more susceptible to accusations of “weakness” from Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump and his supporters, in contrast to Mr. Trump’s “strongman” image.
“And he has lifted them up”, Clinton said. Asked if the health of the candidates was an issue, Trump said: “I think it’s an issue”.
No longer can Trump’s questions about Clinton’s physical stamina be summarily dismissed. Democrats said her continued attendance at events despite her diagnosis proved her toughness.
Unfounded rumors about Clinton’s ailing health moved from fringe right-wing conspiracy forums to the mainstream after her coughing fit last week. Chuck Schumer. “It was pretty hot out there, but she seemed fine to me, and left on her own accord”.
He said the campaign was too focused on making sure Clinton was well instead of releasing information during the 90 minutes following the release of a video showing her almost collapsing after attending a memorial event in NY for the September 11, 2001, attacks. Late Sunday night, she called off plans to travel to California for two days of fundraising, campaign events and an appearance on Ellen DeGeneres’ talk show. The rest of the week’s schedule was still being considered.
“He knows enough to know that, when he’s president, we’re not going to get pushed around”, Conway said.
In contrast, Clinton’s health has become an increasingly important issue for voters during this election.
At 69, Ronald Reagan was the oldest person to be elected president when he won in 1980.
James Woolsey, who has been sharply critical of President Barack Obama’s foreign policy, says he agrees with Trump’s call to spend more on the military.
“I think that in retrospect, we could have handled it better in terms of providing more information more quickly”, Clinton spokesman Brian Fallon told MSNBC.
In contrast, Clinton’s transparency about her health opens herself up to rhetorical attacks along this line.
In phone-in television interviews Monday morning, Trump was uncharacteristically subdued about Clinton’s health issues.
The unsubtle point was clear: journalists must focus all their firepower on Trump, or they will get a beatdown from the Clinton Praetorian Guard.
“We’ll also be on Spanish-language and African-American TV and radio”, he said.
Donald Trump speaks at a rally in Florida. Last July Clinton released a two-page letter from her doctor which falls well short of the complete medical history earlier candidates have released.
Is Clinton being held to a double standard because she is a woman?
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The questions about her health were compounded by the almost eight hours of silence from Clinton and her team about the health scare, as well as the Sunday evening disclosure she had been diagnosed on Friday with pneumonia.
