SAN ANTONIO – Former network anchorman Dan Rather says that this year’s presidential campaign is vastly different than any other he has seen in his 44-year career in broadcast news.
“We have never had a campaign in which the two major party candidates – both of them – had such high negatives,” Rather said during a recent interview. “We have an electorate that is angry, resentful and fearful and that is demanding change.”
That is something that both Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton and Republican Donald Trump continue to promise as Election Day nears.
“His basic campaign plea is, ‘We need change and I am your agent for change,’” Rather said. It’s very hard for Hillary Clinton to argue that she’s an agent of change since she’s coming behind a two-term Democratic president.”
Rather said that charisma has also become an element in the campaign.
“Trump has charisma, though for many people it’s negative charisma,” he said. “Hillary Clinton may make a good president but she’s a lousy candidate, she has no charisma whatsoever.”
Rather was quick to add, “If you have to bet the rent money, you have to bet that Hillary Clinton wins.”
“We have two flawed candidates, each of them have vulnerabilities there’s no question about that,” Rather said. “But one of them is going to be president of the United States, so it’s stop and think.”
He said that “Most people, when it gets down to Election Day vote on two things. One is character and the other is they vote their pocketbook.”