Trump’s latest tailspin: ‘We should take a drug test before debate’

WITH Donald Trump’s siege mentality peaking, he’s accused Hillary Clinton of taking drugs, and says “nothing ever happened with any of these women”.

Trump has spent the weekend saying his rival might be on drugs, denying sexual assaults, and accusing the media of rigging the election. Picture: Mary Schwalm/AFP

US PRESIDENTIAL hopeful Donald Trump’s siege mentality is soaring higher the more his campaign for president unravels: he’s now challenging rival Hillary Clinton to take a drug test ahead of their final presidential debate this week.

It’s been a big couple of days for Trump, mostly spent saying his rival might be on drugs, denying sexual assaults, and accusing the media of rigging the election as his campaign descends into chaos.

Trump’s bizarre and unsubstantiated suggestion Clinton was “pumped up” on performance-enhancing drugs came kicked off a weekend of denials and accusations as he accused “corrupt” media of trying to rig the presidential vote by reporting growing claims of sexual misconduct.

Trump addressed a rally in New Hampshire, seemingly basing his belief that Clinton had taken drugs on nothing more than his belief she was “energetic” at the start of their second debate and downbeat at its conclusion.

“I don’t know what is going on with her,” the 70-year-old billionaire said as he unleashed his attack.

“We’re like athletes. They make them take a drug test. I think we should take a drug test prior to the debate. I think we should — why don’t we do that?”

“At the beginning of her last debate she was all pumped up at the beginning and at the end if was, ‘Huh, take me down.’ She could barely reach her car. So I think we should take a drug test. Anyway, I’m willing to do it.”

Trump has trampled all conventions in his treatment of his opponent, vowing if elected to jail her over her email practices as secretary of state — and making “Lock Her Up” a rallying cry for his fired-up supporters.

His campaign has actively fuelled right-wing conspiracy theories about Clinton’s health, seizing on her bout of pneumonia last month to suggest she is concealing a major health problem, and is unfit for office.

The latest broadside marked yet another escalation of Trump’s scorched-earth electoral strategy heading into the final weeks of a race that has defied all political norms.

“We’re like athletes. They make them take a drug test. I think we should take a drug test,” Trump said as he unleashed his latest bizarre claim. Picture: Sarah Rice/Getty Images

TAILSPIN

Trump's campaign is in a tailspin as the number of women coming forward with allegations of sexual harassment grows, and members of his own party walk away from him.

As the Manhattan billionaire tanks in the polls —- abandoned by part of his own camp — he has spent the week claiming the media and a “global elite” are working against him, alleging that Clinton plotted to destroy the sovereignty of the United States.

His defence is to attack: he has disparaged his accusers, and repeated his claims that there is a vast conspiracy against him to “rig” the election in favour of Hillary Clinton.

In his latest Twitter barrage he continued to deny claims of sexual harassment, alleged the election was rigged and suggested that a loss on November 8 would be illegitimate.

“Nothing ever happened with any of these women. Totally made up nonsense to steal the election. Nobody has more respect for women than me!” he said in one.

“100% fabricated and made-up charges, pushed strongly by the media and the Clinton Campaign, may poison the minds of the American Voter. FIX!”, said another.

“Hillary Clinton should have been prosecuted and should be in jail. Instead she is running for president in what looks like a rigged election.” said another.

Up to 10 different women publicly accused Trump of sexual misconduct, including People writer Natasha Stoynoff who claimed Trump had “forced his tongue down her throat” and told her they were going to have an affair.

Rachel Crooks told the New York Times Trump kissed her “directly on the mouth” in a 2005 encounter while Jessica Leeds claimed he touched her inappropriately on a flight, saying “his hands were everywhere” during a flight three decades ago.

Four former beauty queens, who were just teenagers at the time, also told Buzzfeed Trump would walk into their change rooms.

Nothing ever happened with any of these women. Totally made up nonsense to steal the election. Nobody has more respect for women than me!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 15, 2016

Hillary Clinton should have been prosecuted and should be in jail. Instead she is running for president in what looks like a rigged election

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 15, 2016

Trump’s latest accuser, 63-year-old Cathy Heller, told The Guardian that he had grabbed and kissed her against her wishes during their first and only meeting 20 years ago.

Trump has denied all the allegations and threatened legal action.

During the rally Trump tried to defend himself against the repeated sexual harassment claims: “ “How about this crazy woman on the aeroplane,” he said of Jessica Leeds.

“I mean, can anybody believe that one? How about this? After 15 minutes! We don’t know each other.”

“After 15 minutes, she says, ‘Well, that was too much, I decided’. Fifteen minutes! With the ladies in this place it would be one second and then it would be smack. Fifteen minutes! It’s a crazy world we’re living in.”

Hillary Clinton appears to be largely sitting back and letting “the Don” self-destruct. Picture: Brendan Smialowski/AFP

CLINTON CONFIDENT

A confident Clinton has meanwhile scaled back her campaign commitments, keeping a low profile as her rival battles the incendiary allegations, triggered by the release last week of a video of him bragging about groping women.

But the Clinton camp issued a swift response to Trump’s latest comments on the election, accusing him of seeking to erode public faith in the vote.

“This election will have record turnout, because voters see through Donald Trump’s shameful attempts to undermine an election weeks before it happens,” her campaign manager Robby Mook said in a statement.

The virulence of Trump’s attacks on the Clinton camp has raised concerns about whether the real estate mogul would even acknowledge a defeat, and how his legions of supporters would react should he lose.

President Barack Obama — who along with First Lady Michelle Obama stepped up this week as a heavy-hitting surrogate for Clinton — echoed those concerns at a rally Friday, warning democracy itself was at stake in next month’s vote.

“This is somebody who ... is now suggesting that if the election doesn’t go his way, it’s not because of all the stuff he’s said, but it’s because it’s rigged and it’s a fraud,” said the US leader, whose second term ends January 20.

“In a democracy, you have a contest, but if you lose then you say congratulations and you move on.”