The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
‘Obamacare’ targeted as Trump piles on pressure
Hillary Clinton’s emails again in focus as campaign hots up
Donald Trump took aim at “Obamacare” as well as homing in on the FBI’s renewed examination of rival Hillary Clinton’s emails, as the US election campaign enters its final week.
Campaigning in Pennsylvania, a state where some health care premiums are expected to go up by more than 40%, Republican candidate Mr Trump presented an alternate healthcare proposal at a joint appearance with running mate Mike Pence.
Striking a subdued tone and barely mentioning Mrs Clinton’s name, the typically fiery Republican warned that electing his Democratic rival would “destroy American health care forever”.
He said: “Obamacare has led to higher prices, fewer choices and lower quality. Hillary Clinton wants to expand Obamacare and make it even more expensive.”
If elected, Mr Trump has promised to immediately convene a special session of Congress to repeal the law. It is unclear what that means, since Congress is scheduled to be in session several weeks before the new president is inaugurated.
Earlier, Mr Trump pointed to renewed FBI examination of Mrs Clinton’s email practises as evidence she could face a criminal trial.
He said: “Her election would mire our government and our country in a constitutional crisis we cannot afford.”
While the fresh opportunities reinforce Republican attacks, they may be too little and too late to help Mr Trump. As Mrs Clinton’s national lead shrinks, she is relying on a firewall of support from women and minority voters in demographically diverse swing states.
In rallies across Florida yesterday, she targeted Mr Trump’s treatment of women, who accuse him of repeatedly sexually harassing and even assaulting them.
But with more than 23 million ballots already cast through early voting, Mr Trump simply may not have the time or organisational capacity to improve his standing enough over the next week to enter the White House.