As the American political scientist Corey Brettschneider reminds us in his new book,
The Presidents and the People, the danger inherent in this concentration of power was already highlighted by
Patrick Henry, a hero of the American war of independence, when the US constitution was debated at the Virginia ratifying convention in 1788. What if a criminal were elected president, Henry asked. What if he could abuse his position as singular head of the executive branch and commander in chief of the military to realise his criminal ambitions? Well, here we are 236 years later, and a convicted felon and notorious fan of autocrats is neck-and-neck with the newly crowned Democratic candidate, Kamala Harris.
One leading pollster tells me that the top three issues for the electorate are the economy, crime and immigration, and on all three,
Republicans typically have the edge...However, addressing supporters in the swing state of Georgia on Thursday, Harris reiterated her warning that Trump would sign a nationwide abortion ban in office. Why don’t they trust women? Well, we trust women! And when Congress passes a bill to restore reproductive freedom, as president of the United States, I will proudly sign it into law,” she said.
Donald Trump has pledged to make in vitro fertilisation (IVF) treatment free for all women and criticised a six-week abortion ban in Florida, the latest bid by the Republican to rebrand himself as a defender of reproductive rights. Trump said he would require the government or insurance companies to cover all costs for IVF if elected to a second term as president in November.
Opinion polls suggest that Trump has lost support among women voters since the vice president replaced President Joe Biden as the Democratic contender. In a Reuters/Ipsos poll released on Thursday, Harris led Trump by 13 percentage points among women, up from a nine-point lead in July. This issue may not be the most important margin in the upcoming election but, especially among women, it will be a decisive indicator in who walks into the Oval Office next January.