A week of chaos around the world upended the US presidential race and obliterated Democrat Hillary Clinton’s once-formidable lead over her rival Donald Trump.
Even as Americans were still processing the fallout from the July 7 race-based killing of five white police officers in Dallas, yet another terrorist attack in France the night of July 14 rekindled debate about Muslims and radicalization. Trump responded by postponing a scheduled event to unveil his running mate on July 5 — only to end up acknowledging via Twitter that it indeed was Indiana Gov. Mike Pence after everyone in the media had already reported it.
The announcement came just days after Clinton rival Bernie Sanders finally endorsed her at a campaign stop in New Hampshire, theoretically allowing the party to unite behind its standard-bearer but leaving foes of the status quo angrier than ever. Trump wasted no time capitalizing on the endorsement in his bid to attract voters who feel disenfranchised.
“Bernie Sanders, who has lost most of his leverage, has totally sold out to Crooked Hillary Clinton,” Trump tweeted July 12. "Bernie Sanders endorsing Crooked Hillary Clinton is like Occupy Wall Street endorsing Goldman Sachs."
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