Essay from America: States of fear count down to polling day

Halloween brings out the humour in New Yorkers and this year, along with the usual ghouls, cartoon characters, and cosmic princesses, Donald and Hillary hit the town, writes Caroline O’Doherty

Donald more so than Hillary, it has to be said. He featured on bellies and backsides, with rodent style whiskers and with outsized wagging fingers.

Halloween preparations were also under way at Bulbul Gupta’s apartment on the city’s leafy, laid back Upper West Side where the rooms were lit both by the tealights in the children’s pumpkins and candles for the celebration of Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights.