Trump, Clinton square in ‘Las Vegas showdown’

Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump were due to take the stage in Las Vegas late yesterday for the final debate in an increasingly bitter race for the US presidency.
Polls showed Trump was losing in key battleground states after facing a slew of sexual assault allegations.

But Clinton remained unpopular with many US voters and has faced more bad headlines about her use of a private email server. Most Americans will cast their votes on November 8.

Millions were expected to tune into the third and final debate at the University of Las Vegas, Nevada, which got under way at 0900 EDT (0100 GMT) and was moderated by Fox News journalist Chris Wallace.

The two candidates discussed the debt and entitlements, immigration, the economy, the Supreme Court, foreign flashpoints and their fitness to be president.

Trump has faced damaging fallout after a video emerged of him making obscene comments about groping women, with senior Republicans deserting him.

In recent days he has railed against the election process itself, warning the vote is “absolutely rigged” with “large-scale voter fraud” taking place.

His remarks prompted a scathing response from President Barack Obama, who said the Republican challenger yesterday should “stop whining”.

Trump has invited President Obama’s estranged half-brother, Malik Obama-one of his supporters – as a guest.

He also invited Patricia Smith, whose son was killed in an attack on the US diplomatic mission in Benghazi, Libya, in 2012, while Clinton was US secretary of state.

In contrast to Trump, Clinton has kept a low profile ahead of the debate to prepare for the showdown.

Her spokesman said the Democratic nominee was ready for whatever “scorched-earth” tactics her rival might try.

Before the last debate, Trump appeared at a news conference with women who accused Bill Clinton of sexual misconduct. Since then he has suggested Clinton took performance-enhancing drugs ahead of that meeting.

Source: National mirror