What we have in this election are three entities trapped inside themselves.
First Donald Trump.
Whether he is mentally ill, or just with personal problems, it is obvious the he is either unwilling or unable to switch from tactics that succeeded in the primary campaign to tactics needed for the general election. He is trapped inside himself.
Next the Clintons.
Here are two very hard working talented people who because of paranoia and defensiveness are forever emitting changed-stories/fibs/lies (take your choice). The misstatements are small and pitiful and reflect on their personalities, not on their policy. Because of this Politifact, which looks at policy issues rated Hillary very truthful.
None the less, Their verbal meanderings, often creating smoke where there is no fire, leave a sour taste, and dig themselves into holes of their own creations. Hillary and hubby are trapped inside themselves.
Now for the creme de la creme -- The Republican party.
No matter how many times the Clintons find themselves enmeshed in a scandal or a pseudo-scandal, the House Republicans go so overboard that their behaviour becomes the issue. During Whitewater (what was that about anyway?) their claims that Vince Foster was murdered soon became the main issue. For the Benghazi non-scandal, their constant investigations coming up empty, and Hillary’s ability to come back during 11 hours of questioning turned the whole issue to her advantage.
Now that she is nominated, just overcoming opposition from a socialist wearing a single rumpled suit, with the real email server issue dogging her, the Republicans have nominated Trump, one of the few people she can beat. (Bill Cosby is another) Again they have pulled her feet out of the fire. They also cannot help themselves.