Posted on 10/13/2016 11:55:34 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
Sources within the Democratic National Committee who spoke on condition of anonymity, have told the Observer that Hillary Clinton is inclined to take her senior advisors' tactical suggestion, and withdraw from her third scheduled debate with Donald Trump, set for October 19th. The reasons are as follows:
1. Clinton enjoys an historic lead in the polls. Some polls have her up by 9% nationally. The Real Clear Politics average of polls currently puts her ahead by 5.5% in a 4 way race (Clinton 44.6%, Trump 39.1%). No presidential candidate this far behind less than 30 days before the election, has ever managed to make up a 5.5% deficit in the national polls.
2. There is no compelling reason to debate Mr. Trump. There are few true undecided voters left, with such controversial and unpopular major party candidates.
3. Any time two candidates debate, the unpredictable can happen. Trump could pull a proverbial rabbit out of his hat, in the form of an e mail from Wikileaks, or a surprise from Russian intelligence. Clinton is the better debater, having spent a career in public life. But the bar for Mr. Trump is set extremely low. There is no reason to chance a Trump win.
4. Among the unpredictable things that could happen is Mrs. Clinton could faint, as she did on September 11th, 2016. She has a few chronic conditions, and Bill Clinton said on September 14th that she has always been subject to fainting spells. She may not be any sicker than the average 68 year old woman, but she clearly has health problems. Even a coughing fit could serve as grist for the conspiracy theorists.
5. Despite criticism, Trump dropped out of the final Republican primary debate on January 28, 2016. He is hardly in a position to criticize her for failing to show up for one.
6. Clinton can plausibly refuse to legitimize a man she sees as racist, sexist, misogynist, isolationist, and the leader of a "basket of deplorables." Withdrawing from the debate will play well with her base, who will see it as heroic rather than cowardly.
7. She has already appeared to debate Trump not once but twice. Her supporters (any of the commentators on MSNBC, for example), saw both debates as Clinton victories. Nothing is to be gained in their eyes by showing up and beating an increasingly desperate Trump, a third time.
8. By avoiding being in a room again with Mr. Trump, she has the dignity of being "above the fray." It has been the most contentious presidential election in 100 years. She can ignore Trump and issue mature calls for unity, allowing her to play the theme of "We're Stronger Together" into the Election in January
Winning the presidency is one thing. Actually leading a fractured nation, as Clinton is likely to be doing next year, may prove more challenging than merely beating Trump. Turning on to that task now would be seen as, well, presidential.
Update: Jennifer Rubin at the Washington Post has reached the same conclusion we have: Hillary should blow off (skip) the third debate.
See Also http://www.pennlive.com/opinion/2016/10/hillary_clinton_should_skip_th.html
Is America these days that stupid?
She blows it off at her own peril. She’d get skewered if she dropped—blood in the water. No way she drops.
Better question; is this BS again or are the American people going to take smears over wikileaks confession s?
For real?
She’s eviscerated if she debates, her press is hiding everything and a third debate would introduce the wikileaks dumps through Trump.
Well Comey won’t recommend indictment for doing so.
Let her skip it. We would be giving Donald the same advice, were their positions switched. This will allow him to keep hammering at her image and the corruption of BOTH political parties.
The LSM need the revenue. Won’t not happen.
Translation: Clinton is not really running ahead in the polls and wishes to withdraw so that she can’t be targeted over newest revelations from Wikileaks. In other words, she’s AFRAID OF TRUMP.
No offense, but this source has put out bs stories in the past and everyone called the publication out immediately. I’m not saying it’s untrue, but I’m very skeptical.
What BS
Bttt
Who didnt see this coming?
He beat her like a dead horse the second debate. She comes off wooden and shrill, like many sociopaths do. Chronically unlikeable.
Uniparty media will give her whatever cover she needs.
Mccainiac and ryan will say they don’t blame her.
Trump could replace Hillary with Jill Stein
Please Hillary go right ahead and indulge the delusional. Trump is going to win anyway but this would ensure it.
Skewered by who- the media that is falling over itself to get her elected? She isn’t getting skewered for all the emails. Check the New York Times, about 5 anti trump stories on the front page, one story about Clinton avoiding missteps, and ) stories about the Podesta emails.
I thought it was a spoof.
Ever stand there in a Mexican standoff with a mean dog? Then you try to run?
That’s what it’ll be like for her if she skips the last debate. Then its run for her life.
If she blows it off, Trump should use that time to talk directly to the American people.
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