The Fears of Donald Trump Supporters If He Loses, the Alienation of Republican Women, Hillary Clinton's Texas and More

As polling continues to lean toward Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton, Donald Trump's supporters are becoming increasingly worried about what happens if the New York businessman loses. They worry about all the things that Trump has centered his campaign on from the beginning of his campaign: immigration, jobs, the economy and ISIS, among others. But a growing number of his supporters are expressing their concern about the potential for violent conflict, should Clinton's White House run prove successful. What once seemed like an off-hand, if not dangerous, comment in August about the "Second Amendment people" stopping Clinton is now something even Trump's most ardent supporters are worried about coming to fruition.

Republican women are also fearful of the changes Trump has brought to their party. Trump's general treatment of women and the unwillingness of GOP leadership to rebuke the party's nominee over sexual assault may be a signal to women that the Republican Party is not meant for them.

“For next-generation professional women, the party is going to have to do something very, very drastic to change the course of where this candidate has taken us,” Katie Packer, a deputy campaign manager for Mitt Romney in 2012, told The Washington Post. “I think the leaders in our party are going to have to aggressively reject this. Come November 9, they better be prepared to make very strong statements condemning all of Trump’s behavior.”

Top Stories

Beneath Cheers at Donald Trump’s Rallies, Dark Fears Take Hold: "Big crowds still mob Donald J. Trump when he comes to town, with fans waiting in long lines to attend his rallies, where they eagerly jeer his Democratic rival and holler happily at his message. But beneath the cheering, a new emotion is taking hold among some Trump supporters as they grapple with reports predicting that he will lose the election: a dark fear about what will happen if their candidate is denied the White House. Some worry that they will be forgotten, along with their concerns and frustrations. Others believe the nation may be headed for violent conflict." (The New York Times)

Republican Women Increasingly Fear Party Is Alienating Female Voters: "A growing number of prominent Republican women are worried that as members of their male-dominated party step up to defend Donald Trump against accusations of sexual assault, they are causing irreparable damage to the GOP’s deteriorating relationship with female voters." (The Washington Post)

Can Hillary Clinton win Texas? (Yes, Texas): "One of the clearest indications of the weakness of Donald Trump's candidacy is how far he has lagged behind past Republican nominees in red states. There is Arizona, where Hillary Clinton is currently making a real play, as well as Utah — where Mormons have reacted with revulsion to his campaign. Perhaps most striking is the close race in reliably red Texas, where no Democrat has won the presidential race since 1976." (CNN)

Podesta Tops Clinton’s Short List for Chief of Staff: "Hillary Clinton campaign chairman John Podesta is emerging as the top choice to serve as White House chief of staff — if only for a year — with Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, former Joe Biden chief of staff Ron Klain, and policy adviser Jake Sullivan pegged as likely alternatives." (Politico)

From the Twitterverse

If the Trump campaign is going down, some people want 3 a.m. Twitter Trump back.

On the Radar

• Hillary Clinton will appear with Michelle Obama in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
• Donald Trump will hold three rallies in Ohio.
• Tim Kaine will campaign in Ohio.
• Mike Pence will hold events Nebraska and Iowa.

Today's Numbers

• 11 day until Election Day 2016.
• Twitter lays off 9 percent of its workforce as it posts a desperately needed positive Q3.
• The European Union is set to add 10 Syrian government and military officials to its sanctions list over attacks on Aleppo.
• The Chicago Cubs even the World Series with a 5-1 win over the Cleveland Indians before heading home to Wrigley Field.

Quote of the Day

Donald Trump on Hillary Clinton's "low energy:"

“Here’s a woman, she makes a speech for 15 minutes, she goes to home, goes to bed. Honestly, she has less energy than Jeb Bush. I mean it. I mean it.”

Allen McDuffee is a politics and policy reporter, investigative journalist, blogger and podcast host. He has written for The Atlantic, Wired and The Washington Post. Follow him on Twitter: @AllenMcDuffee

Photo credit: Gage Skidmore via Flickr Commons