2016 presidential election update

DONALD TRUMP, the Republican party nominee, has been polling within 4 points of Clinton for the entire month of September and is currently sitting at 41.3 percent according to RealClear Politics. The Trump campaign has raised $168 million this campaign cycle almost exclusively from campaign donations rather than Super Pac groups, according to OpenSecrets. Trump has raised money from more individual donors than any Republican candidate in history, something that has put the Clinton campaign on edge. In last Monday’s first presidential debate Trump told Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton that he would “release [his] tax returns — against my lawyer’s wishes — when [Hillary Clinton] releases her 33,000 emails that have been deleted.” This challenge was in retort to Clinton’s call for Trump to release his tax returns like every recent presidential candidate before him. Trump has not held back any punches when it comes to Clinton’s numerous scandals, and likewise, Clinton has jumped on every chance she has to attack Trump’s errors and past. Although Trump is still trailing in the polls currently, he has closed the gap between him and Clinton considerably during the month of September.

HILLARY CLINTON, the Democratic nominee has to date raised roughly $516 million dollars in campaign funds, according to OpenSecrets. This staggering amount has come in the form of both Super Pac funds and traditional campaign donations to the tune of 28 and 72 percent respectively. This tremendous amount of money has not gone to waste, as Clinton is currently sitting at a 2.5 point lead over second place candidate Donald Trump, currently polling at 43.4 percent according to the RealClear Politics average. Currently, the Clinton Foundation, specifically Hillary’s connection while serving as Secretary of State is being investigated by the FBI. Clinton’s debate performance has erased most of the health concerns that plauged her last week.

GARY JOHNSON, the Libertarian Party’s presidential nominee, is polling at 7.3 perent according to the RealClear Politics average and was excluded from the initial Presidential Debate. Johnson has been marred by two recent gaffes: he was both unable to name a world leader he admired and asked “What is Aleppo” when questioned on what he would do to assist the besieged Syrian city. Gaffes and scandals have characterized this election cycle, as both of the leading candidates make allegations and point fingers at one another on a seemingly daily basis, but Johnson’s two errors might just have sealed his fate just under a month before the election. To date, according to OpenSecrets, Johnston has raised just under $8.5 million for his election bid, largely from individual donors.

JILL STEIN of the Green Party attempted to gain access to last Monday’s presidential debate by holding a “Let Jill Debate” protest at Hofstra University where the debate was held. Stein was escorted off campus by police, according to the Washington Times and attempted the same stunt four years prior during the last election cycle. As the Green Party nominee, Jill Stein failed to reach a 15 perent polling threshold for participation in the debate, but voiced responses to the questions via social media instead. To date, Stein has raised roughly $1.9 million in her campaign bid exclusively from individuals, according to OpenSecrets. Stein is polling around 2.5% as per the RealClear Politics average, below the threshold to be included in the subsequent presidential debates.