TRUMP IN TROUBLE – AT 10:52 A.M. ET:  Donald Trump is losing it, in many ways.  After weeks of superb campaigning, under the guidance of excellent new advisers, he blew the first debate big time, and followed that loss with a bizarre campaign against a former Miss Universe.  He was baited by Hillary Clinton, and, like the political amateur he is, Trump took the bait.  He is now losing in every poll, and the losses could mount.

The excellent Michael Goodwin, who has been remarkably fair to Trump, sums it up very well in the New York Post, noting the Miss Universe distraction: 

Compounding a debate performance where Trump missed golden opportunities, his bizarre behavior exacted a price. The first polls show he is back on a road to defeat, and the damage is likely just beginning. He’ll keep core supporters, but he’s making it very hard for undecided voters to back him.

Clinton isn’t saying much, in keeping with the maxim to step aside when your opponent is committing political suicide.

Some call her lucky, but her luck is the kind the late baseball executive Branch Rickey described as the “residue of design.” The way Clinton and her team used the Khans and Machado amounts to a clinic on how to exploit an opponent’s weakness.

It might be the only way she could win. Burdened by scandals, branded a liar, suffering a charisma deficit and hobbled by health issues, she is making Trump an unacceptable alternative.

Still, she couldn’t do it without his help. Although he has the change message that best matches the moment, he is beating himself.

Previous predictions of his demise were wrong, but time is running short for another comeback. Besides, if the armchair shrinks are correct that he fears victory, Trump would always find a way to secure defeat.

Then again, a deep dive into his psyche may not be necessary. His behavior could be proof that Clinton and the NeverTrumpers were right all along — that he’s not temperamentally fit to be president.

Whatever the reason for his conduct, we could be witnessing the beginning of the end.

COMMENT:   An extraordinary comment from the very measured Michael Goodwin.  I'm afraid it's true.  October 8th will arrive this week.  The election will then only be one month away.  October 9th is a week from today, when the second presidential debate will be held, in St. Louis.  The moderators will be the very liberal Anderson Cooper of CNN and the equally liberal Martha Raddatz of ABC.  (Once again, the Republican Party aids in the suicide by agreeing to absurd moderators.  Lester Holt, moderator of the first debate, acted like Hillary Clinton's campaign manager.)

Unless there's a dramatic change, Trump is on his way to handing the election to Hillary Clinton.  If her victory is large enough, she might bring in a Democratic Senate.   And this was supposed to be a change election.

Miracles do happen.  Americans are forgiving.  But Donald Trump is wearing out his welcome.

October 2,  2016