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Trump’s stamina attack on Clinton stirs talk of gender bias

Intent on undermining his Democratic rival, Trump and GOP backers are increasingly relying on rhetoric that academics and even some Republican strategists say has an undeniable edge focused on gender. Trump notably belittled his primary rivals, tagging Jeb Bush as ‘’low-energy,’’ and disparaging Ted Cruz as “Lyin’ Ted,’’ and Marco Rubio as “Little Marco.’’

His criticism of Clinton goes beyond “Crooked Hillary,’’ and complaints about her use of a private email server as secretary of state and her foreign policy decisions. Clinton, Trump said in a speech last week, “lacks the mental and physical stamina to take on ISIS and all the many adversaries we face.’’ 

He has repeatedly called attention to Clinton’s voice, saying listening to her gives him a headache. Last December, he mocked her wardrobe. “She puts on her pantsuit in the morning,’’ he told a Las Vegas audience.

At rallies and in speeches, the billionaire mogul has also used stereotypes about women to demean Clinton, who stands to become America’s first female president if she wins in November. A frequent point of criticism: Clinton doesn’t look like a typical president. “Now you tell me she looks presidential, folks,’’ he said at a recent rally in New Hampshire. “I look presidential,’’ he insisted.

Trump’s allies have piled on. Running mate Mike Pence often uses the word “broad-shouldered’’ to describe Trump’s leadership and foreign policy style, a tacit swipe at Clinton. Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani argued that all of the miles Clinton logged during as secretary of state resulted in more harm than benefit. “Maybe it would’ve been better if she had stayed home,’’ said Giuliani, who more recently questioned Clinton’s health, suggesting an internet search of the words “Hillary Clinton illness.’’

“She is the first women from a major party running for president, so gender is always at play,’’ said Dianne Bystrom, director of the Carrie Chapman Catt Center for Women and Politics at Iowa State University.

Clinton pushed back Monday against insinuations she’s in poor health, saying on ABC’s ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live’ that “I do feel sometimes like this campaign has entered into an alternative universe. I have to step into the alternative reality and, you know, answer questions about, am I alive, how much longer will I be alive, and the like.”

Gender has always been tricky for Clinton. She has struggled with how to confront gender norms, ranging from the extent to which to embrace the historic potential of her candidacy to if she should be referred to by her married name. 

Clinton holds 8-point lead over Trump in national poll
Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton holds a eight-point lead over her Republican rival Donald Trump, a latest national poll has said. According to the survey conducted by the NBC News, among registered voters, Clinton, 68, is supported by 50% of the people, while 42% support 70-year-old Trump. The eight-point advantage that Clinton has is virtually unchanged from her nine-point lead last week. She has seen similar margins since the end of July. 

In a four-way general election match-up, Clinton holds a five-point margin over Trump 43-38%, while Libertarian Gary Johnson garners 11% and Green Party candidate Jill Stein gets 5%, it said. Based on the survey, the news channel said race relations will likely continue to be a campaign issue through November. The latest tracking poll found that 65% of registered voters think race relations in the US are getting worse, it said. Just under a quarter said race relations are staying about the same and only 10% said they think race relations are getting better. 
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