Awful prospect - Trump, Clinton neck-and-neck

THIS time last year, Donald Trump’s White House candidacy seemed something that could be ignored like a slightly drunk, entirely boring and difficult uncle at a wedding.

His racist, boorish, and uninformed declarations made it hard to take him and his ambitions seriously. That luxury can’t be afforded any longer.

He has been utterly underestimated and the most recent Reuters/Ipsos poll puts him neck-and-neck with the likely Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton. In the survey, 41% of likely voters supported Mrs Clinton, and 40% backed Mr Trump, while 19% remain undecided. Just last week, Mrs Clinton led Mr Trump by around 13 points.