Hillary Clinton's “basket of deplorables” has sparked a national debate, writes Politico:
Top Hillary Clinton backers want to know what percentage of Donald Trump's supporters will he concede are deplorable – 20 percent? 10? How about just David Duke?
Nothing like watching Mike Pence hedge on calling white supremacist David Duke "deplorable." In fact, Donald Trump doesn't think the racist, sexist, homophobic, xenophobic, and Islamophobic are deplorable at all: "The people Clinton calls deplorable are the most admirable people I know.” Talk like that isn't doing anything to help Trump with his electoral Achilles heel—white educated voters. And not only is the "deplorable" debate a good thing, say Clinton allies, it's working to her advantage.
“One result of this conversation is that the country is actually debating how many of Donald Trump’s supporters are anti-Semitic, racist, sexist,” said Neera Tanden, president of the Center for American Progress and one of the top outside supporters connected to the former secretary of state. “In a world where we wish that number was zero, this debate shines a light on the voice that Donald Trump has given to some attitudes that deeply trouble Americans in this election cycle.”
As Clinton allies note, the voters who think Clinton was characterizing them are Trump voters through and through. Additionally, voters who were wavering are now watching the Trump-Pence ticket defend the likes of David Duke. And voters of color are getting a glimpse of a Democratic nominee who is going to bat for them.