The Smell Of Trump

In the US election, the choice of the next president is between two candidates that have been in the public spotlight for so many years that their every mistake and indiscretion is highlighted by one biased media outlet or another at awkward times.

On one side Hillary Clinton, former First Lady, former Secretary of State, former Senator, former scorned wife. Anyone having spent the best part of 40 years in public life is likely to be some skeletons to draw out of an assortment of closets from the offices they have held. There is no doubt that Clinton has made mistakes along the lengthy road.

On the other side, Donald Trump. Real estate entrepreneur, reality TV star, and a man that does love to stick his name on things - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_things_named_after_Donald_Trump - which includes steaks, mortgages, fragrances, a board game, and a series of buildings and golf courses. For every mark in the win column on his record, there's at least one in the loss. You don't make omelettes without breaking eggs.

Both Clinton and Trump have their passionate supporters and passionate detractors in equal measure. Never has a campaign been so bitter and negative as the current one, fought by two candidates who will either become the oldest or second oldest - behind Ronald Reagan - President to be sworn in to the role.

While Wikileaks publish details of Clinton's Wall Street speeches, pushing further Trump's slur that she's deeply embedded in the establishment, footage comes around of Trump demeaning women yet again. This time, in the company of one of the lesser known members of the Bush family. His defence of the comments includes claims that Bill Clinton used to say similar things on the golf course. If playing golf with a Clinton and touring in a bus with a Bush didn't make you part of the establishment he so claims to not be part of...

Trump continues to refuse to release his financial records, as Presidential candidates have done voluntarily for decades. However his did release his medical records and a statement from his Doctor, which sounded more like a script from an as yet unreleased Bill&Ted film, when Clinton looked a little wobbly. Leaked financial records suggest massive losses in years past, leading to allegations that Trump's tax paying history isn't quite as upright as it could be. "That makes me smart" is Trump's response to not paying taxes, in an indirect answer to the question.

With Republican bigwigs now, finally, distancing themselves from their candidate after the latest revelation, there are even calls for the little known Mike Pence to take over the lead as nominee. Pence, who declares himself 'a born again evangelical Catholic' is a former Indiana governor that progressed laws limiting abortions, LGBT rights, and sex education, and campaigned against gambling, immigration, and lax drug laws.

With no-one really knowing what a late withdrawal would actually mean for either candidate or party - especially considering that voting has already started for non-resident citizens - a departure at this stage could throw the whole country into confusion.

Whereas, if either of these two are elected, that could becomes a would.

Trump has already made claims that the election will be rigged against him - almost laying the path for his split from the Republicans in the event of a Clinton victory, and the death of the two party system in US politics.

But if Trump won, would Republicans actually back him? It's a bigger, more flamboyant version of the Labour Party. The masses want Candidate A, the politicians want Candidate B, and never the twain shall meet.

There is one thing that may be motivating Trump - money.

Aside from $700million the two campaigns have amassed in funding for their respective challenges, there is over $1billion in 'SuperPAC' money available from super-wealthy people - who have 30 times the financial clout that Trump even claims to have - to pour into, or often alongside, campaigns to get political sway and votes in their candidates favour.

There is a $1.7billion pie out there that is ripe for a small, orange, finger to be stuck into. And it swings by every four years too.

Do you smell what Trump smells?