Clinton almost un-backable in US election as Trump implodes

YES people, this is really, actually happening.

It’s important to occasionally remind yourself that despite the theatrics, mud-slinging, lies and political howlers, this is not reality television contest, but the presidential election campaign for the United States of America.

Following a heated, contentious second debate on Monday, Hillary Clinton is into $1.26 to win the US presidency with Sportsbet.com.au.

Donald Trump has drifted to $4.30 following a week of controversy surrounding comments made in a 2005 recording which have been devastating to his campaign and attempts to attract female voters.

Trump, 59 years of age with a pregnant wife at the time, privately boasted about using his celebrity to court and ‘grab’ women:

“I moved on her like a bitch, but I couldn’t get there. And she was married.”
“I did try and f*** her. She was married.”
“Just kiss. I don’t even wait. And when you’re a star, they let you do it. You can do anything.”
“Grab them by the pussy. You can do anything.”
– Donald Trump.

The tape was at the forefront of all news surrounding the election for the past week. It has forced more Republican senators to withdraw their support for Trump and has fuelled speculation that Trump could drop out of the race before the November 8 election day.

The debate immediately began with the topic of Trump’s explosive words, which he dismissed as ‘locker room banter’ as he pivoted to Bill Clinton’s affairs and sexual misconduct.

Half the questions from the debate were asked by undecided voters, the rest by two moderators.

The key moments, quotes and issues from the debate included:

• Trump admitting that he had not spoken to his Vice President nominee Mike Pence on the topic of Syria and foreign policy and disagreed with Pence’s policy points from the previous week.
• Trump claimed that if elected President, he would launch another criminal investigation into Clinton’s deleted, classified emails.
• Trump said that Clinton had “tremendous hate in her heart” when it came to presiding over the entire US (including his supporters which she labelled ‘deplorables’) if elected president.
• Clinton said that some criticism of Obamacare was warranted, but instead of repealing the bill, would work to take its strengths and continue to improve the new system.
• Trump admitted to using loop holes to not pay taxes, claiming that Clinton’s donors would do the same thing.
• Trump claimed that “no one has more respect for women than I do.”
• Trump said that Clinton “would be in jail” if he were president.
• When each candidate was asked to say something positive about their rival, Clinton said she respected Trump’s children, while Trump called Clinton a fighter – “she doesn’t quit and she doesn’t give up.”

In scientific polls following the second debate, Clinton was found the clear winner.

In polls released prior to the debate, Clinton held a 6 per cent lead in general election polls – but it is worth noting that the two candidates remain the most unpopular voting choices in the history of American politics.