Paxman on Trump vs Clinton: the BBC journalist charts the Republican vs Democrat battle

He’s decidedly unimpressed by both candidates in this political catch-up report
Unimpressed: Jeremy Paxman looks at Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump in BBC report
BBC/Brook Lapping/Jay Dacey
Ben Travis17 October 2016

To say that the US election campaign between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton has been a fraught and messy race is an almighty understatement.

Whether it’s the recent sexual allegations and tape leaks about Trump or Hillary’s deleted emails, there’s controversy on both sides.

Who better, then, to wade in and sort the truth, lies, wheat and chaff than the BBC’s formidable Jeremy Paxman.

He’s not taking it easy on either candidate.

Hillary Clinton v Donald Trump: US Presidential Election

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“Where are the heroes now?” he laments, after recapping the popularity of Abraham Lincoln back in the 1800s.

“Whatever happens in November’s presidential election, the winner will be one of the two least popular candidates of all time.

“What on earth has happened to a truly great democracy that the choice is so awful?”

Travelling to Washington, Paxman reports on the situation he calls “this whole mess”, reflecting on the rise of each party’s leader, and why – more than ever – the two sides are so vehemently opposed to each other.

With the all-important vote just a matter of weeks away, Paxman’s investigations are an ideal catch-up for anyone struggling to keep up on this side of the pond.

It also asks an important question: with two polar opposite candidates, will the election leave the USA irrevocably divided, no matter who the winner is?

And here we were thinking that Brexit would be the biggest political split of the year.

BBC One, 9pm

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