Seemingly with every passing day, US Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump’s chance of taking the White House seems to be crumbling around him.
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Not content with deriding his opponent Democrat candidate Hilary Clinton at every opportunity, Mr Trump has taken to making wild and ridiculous claims that the upcoming election is somehow rigged.
After going on the offensive early in the campaign, Mr Trump has been under fire from almost every quarter – particularly the media and now even some quarters of his own party.
Ten women have come forward and accused Mr Trump of touching them inappropriately.
Can you imagine a similar situation transpiring here in Australia?
No you wouldn’t because it simply wouldn’t happen.
And even on the outside chance it did, any potential candidate would have done the honourable thing and fallen on his or her sword long ago.
The entire grubby saga has left a stain on the reputation of democracy in the US.
But things took an even more bizarre twist during the third and final presidential debate this week when Mr Trump suggested that he may not accept defeat even if he loses the November general election.
"I will look at it at the time," Trump told the nation when he was asked by moderator Chris Wallace if he would concede if he loses on November 8. "I will keep you in suspense."
That’s both staggering and frightening. Making outlandish accusations is nothing new or unique for the Republican during the campaign.
Among them was claims that the media was corrupting the election by printing lies. He also claimed that millions of Americans were on voting lists who shouldn’t have been. Of the more serious claims directed at him – women accusing him of sexual assault – Mr Trump said they were “planted by the Clinton campaign”.
On a brighter note, support for Hillary Clinton is climbing and she continues to lead in every opinion poll. A Donald Trump win is looking less and less likely every day.
Whatever plans Mr Trump has up his sleeve if he does in fact lose the election – most likely a legal challenge – could draw the entire process out for weeks, if not months.
That’s not democracy.