Trump, Clinton blast each other on character; Clinton rises in poll

LAS VEGAS

Democrat Hillary Clinton and Republican Donald Trump attacked one another’s character as they pushed their closing arguments six days before the U.S. presidential election, while the latest Reuters/Ipsos poll showed Clinton’s lead over Trump rising back to the margin she held last week, Reuters reported. 

Many national polls have shown Clinton’s lead over Trump narrowing since the re-emergence Oct. 28 of a controversy over her use of a private email while secretary of state. 

But the latest Reuters/Ipsos daily tracking poll released on Nov. 2 showed Clinton’s lead over Trump rising back up to 6 percentage points, the same advantage she held before the FBI announcement related to her email practices. 

Signs of a tightening race have rattled financial markets as investors started to factor in the possibility that the New York businessman might pull off a victory on Nov. 8. 

World stocks, the dollar and oil fell on Nov. 2, while safe-haven assets such as gold and the Swiss franc rose. Clinton has been regarded as the candidate who would maintain the status quo, an important factor to financial markets, which generally do not like uncertainty. 

Campaigning in Pensacola, Florida, Trump predicted he would win, telling supporters at the outdoor rally, “It’s feeling like it already, isn’t it? 

“We’ve got to be nice and cool, nice and cool. Alright, stay on point, Donald, stay on point. No sidetracks, Donald, nice and easy,” said Trump, whose campaign has at times been damaged by controversial unscripted remarks. 

Trump argued that Clinton was unqualified to lead the country, calling her “totally unhinged.” 

Speaking to supporters in Las Vegas, Clinton blamed Trump for pitting Americans against one another, citing his rhetoric on groups like Muslims and Mexican-Americans. Trump, she said, is “out of his depth,” and she called his proposals on foreign policy issues “incredibly dangerous.” 

“He doesn’t have a clue,” Clinton said.