Donald Trump has all but lost a golden chance to be the next occupant of the White House. He has destroyed his initial lead and popularity by crass comments and immature conduct. It’s difficult for him to now make a comeback
The excitement and apprehensions which the 2016 US presidential election has generated, is unprecedented. The annoyance of a large section of women voters towards the shabby and uncivilised behaviour of Republican candidate Donald Trump has changed the dynamics of this election. The racial and gendered division of voters has unexpectedly tilted this election heavily in favour of Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton. The stories of the victims of sexual harassment appearing in the US media have changed the contours of this election. As a result, despite voters’ doubts about Hillary Clinton on a range of issues, her chances of becoming the next US President have strengthened.
The tirade against the Republican candidate Trump is also being led by US first lady Michelle Obama, who feels that the shameful comments by a powerful person like Trump have not only showed disrespect towards women but also demonstrated his egotism. Trump’s supporters have maintained that these are the pro-Clinton liberal media fabrications meant to tarnish his image. But increasing disclosures from the victims have for the first time given a 15-point lead to Clinton.
Trump’s theory about Hillary Clinton as the founder of the Islamic State and the remark that he would jail her on becoming President, have also made the Democratic candidate’s task easier. Although it is still difficult to choose between the devil and the deep sea, people now seem ready to go for a ‘lesser evil’ and give Clinton a chance despite her bad record of closed meetings of healthcare panel, personal e-mail issue etc. The premier opinion-making newspaper of the US, the Washington Post, has endorsed Hillary Clinton because it feels that she has the ability, is well prepared, experienced and more qualified than Trump.
Though Trump’s unsavory comments about women, blacks and others had been earning the wrath of large sections of people, they were still ready to give him a chance. This was reflected in his lead over other Republican hopefuls as well as Clinton in the earlier opinion polls. His out-of-the-box thinking on domestic and foreign policy issues attracted people who were fed up with the Democratic Party and its various failures, nationally and internationally. His statements about the primacy of US national interests in foreign policy, curtailing the burden of collective security to stop the free-riding of rich countries, changing the pattern of American partnership with the international financial and trade treaties, business with China and India, bringing back jobs for the Americans, a ban on the entry of Muslims, erecting fence at the American border with Mexico though controversial, had established his rapport with the voters and increased his overall popularity.
However, the journey of Donald Trump from being a novice to a Republican presidential candidate and then being a hate politician, has taken a toll on the American values and its multiculturalism. For the first time in the recent history of a presidential election, voters are divided along colour, gender and racial lines.
Although there is no denying that mud-slinging is part and parcel of election rhetoric, but to stoop to such levels is not something expected from a US presidential candidate. His remarks have created not only bad blood and confusion but also tension within the American society. His fascination and appreciation of Russian President Vladimir Putin, has confused the voters who are generally averse to Russia. Many security experts have declared they would not vote for Trump because he lacked the character, values and the experience considered necessary to become President.
Hillary Clinton is also not very popular among the voters. But Trump’s disrespect towards women, sexually-coloured remarks, recklessness, incompetence, and abruptness has certainly increased Hillary Clinton’s support base; her lead over Trump in national polls has been widening. After getting a good initial lead and popularity in the national polls, Trump is now being denounced across the board, even within his own party, which has all but renounced him. He has clearly lost the plot and it is difficult for him to make a comeback through corrective measures at this late stage.
Although India has been following a wise and cautious approach and has avoided supporting either Clinton or Trump, for India-US relations too, Clinton is the best bet. She had made some serious efforts to bring India and the US closer in becoming strategic partners. Hillary Clinton, during her visit to India in 2011, had encouraged India to look East and Act East, and her advice has worked well for this country. She had also visited India as the first lady when her husband Bill Clinton was in the White House. In view of the maturity she had demonstrated, she must get an opportunity to serve the US as its next President.
(The writer is Professor of Political Science, HNB Garhwal University, Srinagar, Garhwal, Uttarakhand)