Hillary Clinton&#39;s possible election next week to America&#39;s highest office has raised a sticky question: What&#39;s the best way to refer to the president&#39;s male spouse?

There have only ever been male presidents in the United States with female spouses. One president, James Buchanan, remained a lifelong bachelor.

Bill Clinton poses a special dilemma -- not only he would be the first male presidential spouse, but also the first former president to return to the White House as a spouse.&nbsp;

The former Arkansas governor was elected president in 1992 and again in 1996, serving eight years in office.

It is common to use the honorific &quot;president&quot; to anyone who has served in the post, even after they leave office.

But if the prognosticators are correct, and Hillary Clinton wins the presidency, then Bill Clinton can no longer be referred to as president Clinton after his wife&#39;s inauguration in January without creating massive confusion.

Lisa Grotts, a certified etiquette expert, told AFP that the dilemma of how to address a male spouse has been dealt with at the state level, which may, or may not, provide a roadmap.

&quot;In the US, we have six female governors, and their husbands unofficially go by First Gentleman. But there are no rules for presidential spouses,&quot; she said.&nbsp;

&quot;Once a president, always a president and that will always be his title for life,&quot; she said.

Protocol&nbsp;

Allida Black, an expert on first ladies with the White House Historical Association, told AFP that there is no question that, in terms of protocol at least, Bill Clinton&#39;s &quot;title will stay the same&quot; when the first couple are presented at formal events -- at a state dinner, for example.

&quot;It will be President Clinton and former president Clinton,&quot; Black said.

&quot;We went through the same thing with the Bush family,&quot; she continued, referring to George H.W. Bush, the 41st US president, and his son, George W. Bush, the 43rd.

&quot;We had President Bush and former president Bush, so when they were together, they were introduced that way, and the Clintons will be introduced the same way as well,&quot; she said.

The stickier issue of day-to-day nomenclature will be handled by the in-house experts, Black said.

&quot;The office of presidential protocol, working with the Clintons, will decide how to rename the Office of the First Lady,&quot; Black said.

&quot;If she was married to a person who had not been president, he would have been the First Gentleman, but because Bill Clinton had been president, he is former president, and not the First Gentleman.&quot;

Choosing a cause&nbsp;

What is clear, is that Bill Clinton will not revert to the title of governor or former governor, which would be a breach of protocol.

&quot;It would be a lesser title than being former president,&quot; Black said.

The first lady traditionally has her own staff and budget in the White House, and typically adopts causes that are more or less non-controversial.&nbsp;

Laura Bush took on the issues of reading and literacy; Michelle Obama tackled obesity, and good nutrition via her White House garden. She also gave greater visibility to support for veterans and their families.

Another issue brewing in political circles is precisely what official role the First Gentleman -- if that is what he&#39;s called -- will play.

Bill Clinton has promised to step away from the family&#39;s Clinton Foundation charity if his wife is elected.

He remains relatively fit and active, but has sworn off one of the endeavors that has occupied much of his time in retirement and proved quite lucrative -- speech-making -- which earned both Clintons millions of dollars once they were no longer in public office.

Officially, Bill Clinton will not be allowed to take paid government employment during his wife&#39;s tenure.&nbsp;

&quot;He cannot have an official paid position but he could be an unofficial advisor to her,&quot; said Black.

That would reverse the arrangement they reached during Bill Clinton&#39;s presidency, when Hillary Clinton headed up his administration&#39;s failed efforts to bring about comprehensive health care reform.

Hillary Clinton earlier this year suggested that she might task her husband with spearheading her administration&#39;s efforts to revitalize the economy -- a nod to his vaunted presidential success in balancing the US budget while creating millions of jobs.&nbsp;

(AFP)

There has never been a female US President; spouses of female governors however are called First Gentleman

Hillary Clinton's possible election next week to America's highest office has raised a sticky question: What's the best way to refer to the president's male spouse? There have only ever been male presidents in the United States with female spouses. One president, James Buchanan, remained a lifelong bachelor. Bill Clinton poses a special dilemma -- not only he would be the first male presidential spouse, but also the first former president to return to the White House as a spouse. The former Arkansas governor was elected president in 1992 and again in 1996, serving eight years in office. It is common to use the honorific "president" to anyone who has served in the post, even after they leave office. But if the prognosticators are correct, and Hillary Clinton wins the presidency, then Bill Clinton can no longer be referred to as president Clinton after his wife's inauguration in January without creating massive confusion. Lisa Grotts, a certified etiquette expert, told AFP that the dilemma of how to address a male spouse has been dealt with at the state level, which may, or may not, provide a roadmap. "In the US, we have six female governors, and their husbands unofficially go by First Gentleman. But there are no rules for presidential spouses," she said. "Once a president, always a president and that will always be his title for life," she said. Protocol Allida Black, an expert on first ladies with the White House Historical Association, told AFP that there is no question that, in terms of protocol at least, Bill Clinton's "title will stay the same" when the first couple are presented at formal events -- at a state dinner, for example. "It will be President Clinton and former president Clinton," Black said. "We went through the same thing with the Bush family," she continued, referring to George H.W. Bush, the 41st US president, and his son, George W. Bush, the 43rd. "We had President Bush and former president Bush, so when they were together, they were introduced that way, and the Clintons will be introduced the same way as well," she said. The stickier issue of day-to-day nomenclature will be handled by the in-house experts, Black said. "The office of presidential protocol, working with the Clintons, will decide how to rename the Office of the First Lady," Black said. "If she was married to a person who had not been president, he would have been the First Gentleman, but because Bill Clinton had been president, he is former president, and not the First Gentleman." Choosing a cause What is clear, is that Bill Clinton will not revert to the title of governor or former governor, which would be a breach of protocol. "It would be a lesser title than being former president," Black said. The first lady traditionally has her own staff and budget in the White House, and typically adopts causes that are more or less non-controversial. Laura Bush took on the issues of reading and literacy; Michelle Obama tackled obesity, and good nutrition via her White House garden. She also gave greater visibility to support for veterans and their families. Another issue brewing in political circles is precisely what official role the First Gentleman -- if that is what he's called -- will play. Bill Clinton has promised to step away from the family's Clinton Foundation charity if his wife is elected. He remains relatively fit and active, but has sworn off one of the endeavors that has occupied much of his time in retirement and proved quite lucrative -- speech-making -- which earned both Clintons millions of dollars once they were no longer in public office. Officially, Bill Clinton will not be allowed to take paid government employment during his wife's tenure. "He cannot have an official paid position but he could be an unofficial advisor to her," said Black. That would reverse the arrangement they reached during Bill Clinton's presidency, when Hillary Clinton headed up his administration's failed efforts to bring about comprehensive health care reform. Hillary Clinton earlier this year suggested that she might task her husband with spearheading her administration's efforts to revitalize the economy -- a nod to his vaunted presidential success in balancing the US budget while creating millions of jobs. (AFP)

Should Hillary win, what'll we call Bill?

Voter turnout among African American and Hispanic voters in the United States is surging, and this swell of minority participation could spell trouble for Donald Trump&#39;s White House hopes.

On Sunday -- the last day of early voting before Election Day on November 8 -- hundreds of people attended &quot;Souls to the Polls&quot; events, aimed at encouraging churchgoers to vote across the key swing state of Florida.

Some came straight from morning worship, wearing three-piece suits and dresses as they made their way past dozens of campaigners hoisting signs for local candidates and urging support for solar energy and education issues.&nbsp;

At one event in central Miami, people held hands and prayed outside an early voting site, while at another in southern Miami-Dade County, about 20 African American men rolled in together on motorcycles.

For some, the vote they cast was as much for Democrat Hillary Clinton as it was against her Republican billionaire challenger.

&quot;I&#39;m scared if Trump wins,&quot; said Ines Curbelo, 57, a nurse who described herself as Afro-Cuban and was handing out Democratic flyers at a polling place Cutler Bay, south of Miami.

As speakers blared gospel and R&amp;B music, a line formed near a smoky barbecue pit and several young boys jousted with inflatable swords on the grassy lawn behind her.

&quot;He would set back politics and set back race relations and set back women&#39;s fight for equality in the workplace -- everything is going to get set so far back,&quot; Curbelo said.

100 per cent increase in Hispanic voters&nbsp;

 
Hispanics make up a powerful voting bloc in the battleground state of Florida, and are widely expected to lean toward Clinton, particularly since Trump has described Mexicans as rapists, repeatedly vowed to build a border wall and promised to deport masses of illegal immigrants.

As of Saturday, 565,000 Hispanics have voted in person in Florida, a 100 per cent increase over the close of early voting in 2012, according to Daniel Smith, a University of Florida professor who tracks voter turnout.

In another sign of voter enthusiasm, of the 911,000 Hispanics who have already voted this year -- whether in person or by mail -- 36 per cent did not vote in the last presidential election.

Nationwide, about 12 per cent of voters are Hispanic, or about 27.3 million people, according to Pew Research Center projections.

Four million more Hispanics are eligible to vote this year compared to 2012, and high turnout has been seen in other states such as Nevada.

&quot;The Hispanic community is coming out,&quot; teacher Marcela Stewart, 37, told AFP at the Souls to the Polls event.

&quot;I think as far as the black community, we need to work a little harder,&quot; she added.

&quot;Some people are just discouraged and feel they cannot impact the election, so we want to let them know that their voices will be heard and they need to come out.&quot;

&nbsp;Black turnout &#39;explodes&#39;&nbsp;

 
Indeed, when early voting in the United States started two weeks ago, African American turnout was low.

According to Tornell Jenkins, a 37-year-old student, President Barack Obama&#39;s historic victory as the first black president in 2008 &quot;really drove the black vote.&quot;

&quot;Now there is confusion. Some blacks feel that both parties are bad,&quot; he added, predicting that many in his community would wait for Election Day to vote.

Early last week, Smith said black turnout was &quot;lackluster&quot; -- at about 14 per cent of early voters -- compared to 26 per cent in 2012, the last time Obama was elected.

But that changed, after Obama made a series of appeals for black voters to support Clinton, and Clinton herself appeared at a campaign event with Beyonce and Jay-Z.

&quot;Over the past few days, we&#39;ve seen black turnout explode, with more African-Americans voting early in-person than in 2012, and we still have &#39;Souls to the Polls&#39; numbers from today to add to the running total,&quot; Smith told AFP.

A total of 777,000 blacks have already voted in Florida, he said.

And more are coming to vote in person -- 25,000 more as of Saturday, compared to all eight days of early voting in 2012.

Mixing religion and politics on the last Sunday of early voting can be an important draw for the working class, according to Namita Waghray, an organiser with the American County of Federal, State and County Employees (AFSCME), a 1.6-million-member union that includes bus drivers, garbage collectors and more.

&quot;In African American communities, this is when people vote,&quot; she said, recalling about 800 people came out for Souls to the Polls events in 2012 and a dozen were held statewide this year.

&quot;The reason we partner with churches and people of faith is because they have such belief in their community.&quot;

&nbsp;

(AFP)

They fear that if Donald Trump wins, he will set back politics, race, and women's rights back to what it used to be

Voter turnout among African American and Hispanic voters in the United States is surging, and this swell of minority participation could spell trouble for Donald Trump's White House hopes. On Sunday -- the last day of early voting before Election Day on November 8 -- hundreds of people attended "Souls to the Polls" events, aimed at encouraging churchgoers to vote across the key swing state of Florida. Some came straight from morning worship, wearing three-piece suits and dresses as they made their way past dozens of campaigners hoisting signs for local candidates and urging support for solar energy and education issues. At one event in central Miami, people held hands and prayed outside an early voting site, while at another in southern Miami-Dade County, about 20 African American men rolled in together on motorcycles. For some, the vote they cast was as much for Democrat Hillary Clinton as it was against her Republican billionaire challenger. "I'm scared if Trump wins," said Ines Curbelo, 57, a nurse who described herself as Afro-Cuban and was handing out Democratic flyers at a polling place Cutler Bay, south of Miami. As speakers blared gospel and R&B music, a line formed near a smoky barbecue pit and several young boys jousted with inflatable swords on the grassy lawn behind her. "He would set back politics and set back race relations and set back women's fight for equality in the workplace -- everything is going to get set so far back," Curbelo said. 100 per cent increase in Hispanic voters Hispanics make up a powerful voting bloc in the battleground state of Florida, and are widely expected to lean toward Clinton, particularly since Trump has described Mexicans as rapists, repeatedly vowed to build a border wall and promised to deport masses of illegal immigrants. As of Saturday, 565,000 Hispanics have voted in person in Florida, a 100 per cent increase over the close of early voting in 2012, according to Daniel Smith, a University of Florida professor who tracks voter turnout. In another sign of voter enthusiasm, of the 911,000 Hispanics who have already voted this year -- whether in person or by mail -- 36 per cent did not vote in the last presidential election. Nationwide, about 12 per cent of voters are Hispanic, or about 27.3 million people, according to Pew Research Center projections. Four million more Hispanics are eligible to vote this year compared to 2012, and high turnout has been seen in other states such as Nevada. "The Hispanic community is coming out," teacher Marcela Stewart, 37, told AFP at the Souls to the Polls event. "I think as far as the black community, we need to work a little harder," she added. "Some people are just discouraged and feel they cannot impact the election, so we want to let them know that their voices will be heard and they need to come out." Black turnout 'explodes' Indeed, when early voting in the United States started two weeks ago, African American turnout was low. According to Tornell Jenkins, a 37-year-old student, President Barack Obama's historic victory as the first black president in 2008 "really drove the black vote." "Now there is confusion. Some blacks feel that both parties are bad," he added, predicting that many in his community would wait for Election Day to vote. Early last week, Smith said black turnout was "lackluster" -- at about 14 per cent of early voters -- compared to 26 per cent in 2012, the last time Obama was elected. But that changed, after Obama made a series of appeals for black voters to support Clinton, and Clinton herself appeared at a campaign event with Beyonce and Jay-Z. "Over the past few days, we've seen black turnout explode, with more African-Americans voting early in-person than in 2012, and we still have 'Souls to the Polls' numbers from today to add to the running total," Smith told AFP. A total of 777,000 blacks have already voted in Florida, he said. And more are coming to vote in person -- 25,000 more as of Saturday, compared to all eight days of early voting in 2012. Mixing religion and politics on the last Sunday of early voting can be an important draw for the working class, according to Namita Waghray, an organiser with the American County of Federal, State and County Employees (AFSCME), a 1.6-million-member union that includes bus drivers, garbage collectors and more. "In African American communities, this is when people vote," she said, recalling about 800 people came out for Souls to the Polls events in 2012 and a dozen were held statewide this year. "The reason we partner with churches and people of faith is because they have such belief in their community." (AFP)

US election 2016: Increase in voter turnout among African Americans, Hispanics

Donald Trump, the former television celebrity and current Republican Party candidate for the president, as well as Hillary Clinton, former secretary of state and current Democratic Party presidential nominee, have made the claim that, if elected, they will implement policies that will improve the lives of working Americans.&nbsp; To see whether either candidate is on the right track to make lives better for average Americans, let&rsquo;s take a look at the last half-century or so of unionisation and wages for average Americans, the two standard benchmarks of working class health.&nbsp;

Without unions, an individual worker is virtually powerless to negotiate with an employer. It is through a union, that a worker can gain both leverage and power. Workers, of course, go to work for a wage, the money is necessary to keep them and their families alive. The historical experience of the United States is that on average, strong unions increase wages and benefits whereas weak&nbsp;or no unions decrease them.

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The decline of unions is roughly paralleled by the decline and stagnation of wages, bringing down the working class standard of living (Others)
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As in many countries, employers and governments fought early efforts by workers to unionise but the Great Depression of 1929 radically changed the situation. As unemployment reached a third of the workforce and with a dramatic increase in poverty, labour struggles multiplied. Such labour activism was often supported by the presidency of Franklin Roosevelt and his brilliant and politically active wife, Eleanor. Unionisation grew through the Depression. &nbsp;

When the Great Depression ended up in World War II, the new extremely tight labor market favoured workers, as millions of men and women went off to war and millions of others got good work in war industries. Therefore, by the 1940s, the rate of unionisation peaked at 35 per cent of the labour force.&nbsp; Beginning in the 1950s, continued attacks by employers, right-wing groups and sometimes less-friendly governments, led to a slow decline in unionisation. Attacks accelerated after the 1973-75 oil crisis and the unionisation rate fell to 20 per cent in 1983, 12 per cent in 2009, and 11 per cent in 2015. This union decline took place under both Republican and Democratic presidents. Today, unions are essentially a negligible economic and political force. &nbsp;

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With strong unions and the buoyant post-war economy, wages and incomes grew steadily through the 1950s, 60s and 70s. (Others)
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&nbsp;

&nbsp;The decline of unions is roughly paralleled by the decline and stagnation of wages and the working class standard of living.&nbsp; The labor market is stratified with many different wage levels, so while it&rsquo;s true that incomes have increased for many working people, for the average worker and for those on the bottom, real wages have either declined or stagnated.

&nbsp; With strong unions and the buoyant post-war economy, wages and incomes grew steadily through the 1950s and 1960s. In terms of the value of&nbsp; dollars in 2015, the real minimum wage peaked in 1968 at $ 10.85.&nbsp; It has fallen or stagnated since and today is $7.25. According to the Pew Research Center, the 2014 average hourly wage of $22.41 was the same in real terms as the $4.03-an-hour rate of 1973.&nbsp; No growth at all. The average household today has a net worth 14 per cent below that of 1984, according to the Russell Sage Foundation.&nbsp; Meanwhile, from 1973 to 2013 labour productivity has increased by 73 per cent. Thus, the country got richer but average working families did not.&nbsp;

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While labour productivity has increased over the decades and the country got richer, but average working families did not (Others)
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&nbsp; So, the real question of the labour perspective under Trump or Clinton is whether they can change these long-run and deep-rooted tendencies.

Republicans are traditionally a pro-business anti-labour party, and Trump&rsquo;s presidential platform is typically anti-labour. It endorses an expansion of &ldquo;right-to-work&rdquo; laws, which effectively prevent unions from organising.&nbsp; Many Republicans would like to eliminate the legal minimum wage, and they oppose most regulatory statutes that protect working people. They argue that eliminating them and dropping wages will increase job opportunities, though the evidence from austerity programmes worldwide over the last 20 years provides no support for that.

&nbsp;The Democratic Platform calls for an elimination of &ldquo;right to work&rdquo; laws and therefore an extension of unionisation.&nbsp;It also calls for raising the minimum wage to $15 per hour, doubling the current figure.&nbsp; They also support broader protections for working families and unions.

The problem is that both unions and real wages have been undermined for the last forty years under both Republican and Democratic governments.&nbsp; There is no question that a Trump victory would be unfavourable for workers, but there is a question of whether a Clinton victory would help working families or not.&nbsp; Only time will tell.

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<h5>There is no question that a Trump victory would be unfavourable for workers, but there is a question of whether a Clinton victory would help working families or not.</h5>
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Clinton and Trump differ on other issues that affect working families, but none more central than tax policy.&nbsp; Municipalities, counties, state, and the federal government all require money to operate and, by and large, that money comes from taxes. Governments can tax businesses as well as individuals.&nbsp; Individual taxes can take two forms: progressive and regressive. While the former can make those with higher incomes provide proportionately more taxes, the latter make those with lower incomes provide proportionately more.&nbsp;

The principal progressive tax in the United States is the Federal Income Tax. When implemented in 1913, the tax rate on the highest incomes was only 7 per cent. Governments soon discovered a basic principle of taxation, which is you can&rsquo;t get money from people who does not have money. So, if you want to finance government, you have to tax the wealthy.&nbsp; For that reason, with the Great Depression, Roosevelt brought the top tax rate up to 79 per cent in 1936, and then with World War II, to 94 per cent (it&#39;s expensive to fight wars). The top rate has been declining ever since: 77 per cent in 1964, 38.5 per cent in 1987, and 35 per cent from 2003 to 2012, though currently, under President Obama, it is 39.6 per cent. &nbsp;

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Cutting taxes on the rich make the rich richer and government poorer (Reuters)
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Trump and the Republicans have all promised to cut taxes, claiming that it will help to restore growth and jobs. Though, as with wages, austerity programmes around the world over the last 40 years provide no evidence for this.&nbsp; Cutting taxes on the rich make the rich richer and government poorer.&nbsp; Trump has said he would cut the&nbsp;top individual rate to&nbsp;25 per cent and the top corporate rate&nbsp;to&nbsp;15 per cent while also eliminating the estate tax, a tax that disproportionately affects the wealthy.&nbsp; The Democratic Party, on the other hand, has expressed support for the progressive income tax and the principle that the wealthy should pay a greater per cent of their income in taxes.

The Government has many expenses. So, when taxes on the wealthy are cut, a government must either cut spending which, incidentally, is the favoured position of the Republican programme, or raise regressive taxes, which incommensurably affect the poor.&nbsp; Historically speaking, most spending cuts do disproportionately hurt the poor. This has for long been evident, for instance, when welfare was slashed in the 1980s, or in reduced spending in education, particularly, in Republicans controlled states. The wealthy have the option of sending children to private schools, an option closed to the poor. &nbsp;

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Here are many other policy issues &ndash; health care, education, retirement benefits, social security, climate change &ndash; that affect working people, but unions, wages, and taxes are the most immediate and direct.&nbsp; That said, nobody can predict the future.&nbsp; Future growth rates, technological change, climate change, and the political activities of the working class itself are at least as important, if not more, as government policy.&nbsp; Furthermore, once in office, candidates change as the real world impinges. A candidate may say one thing, but once in power, may do another.&nbsp; Furthermore, and as of this writing, Trump has only a miniscule chance of winning the election after insulting African-Americans, Latinos, immigrants, Muslims, the disabled, women, and many leaders in his own party.

&nbsp;Nonetheless, the problem for the working class remains.&nbsp; After 40 years of declining or stagnating growth rates, declining rates of unionisation, and declining or stagnating real wages, can even a Clinton presidency reverse these trends? &nbsp; There is nothing among her policies to suggest they will.

&nbsp;

There is no question that a Trump victory would be unfavourable for workers, but will Hillary Clinton's victory help working families?

Donald Trump, the former television celebrity and current Republican Party candidate for the president, as well as Hillary Clinton, former secretary of state and current Democratic Party presidential nominee, have made the claim that, if elected, they will implement policies that will improve the lives of working Americans. To see whether either candidate is on the right track to make lives better for average Americans, let’s take a look at the last half-century or so of unionisation and wages for average Americans, the two standard benchmarks of working class health. Without unions, an individual worker is virtually powerless to negotiate with an employer. It is through a union, that a worker can gain both leverage and power. Workers, of course, go to work for a wage, the money is necessary to keep them and their families alive. The historical experience of the United States is that on average, strong unions increase wages and benefits whereas weak or no unions decrease them. The decline of unions is roughly paralleled by the decline and stagnation of wages, bringing down the working class standard of living (Others) × As in many countries, employers and governments fought early efforts by workers to unionise but the Great Depression of 1929 radically changed the situation. As unemployment reached a third of the workforce and with a dramatic increase in poverty, labour struggles multiplied. Such labour activism was often supported by the presidency of Franklin Roosevelt and his brilliant and politically active wife, Eleanor. Unionisation grew through the Depression. When the Great Depression ended up in World War II, the new extremely tight labor market favoured workers, as millions of men and women went off to war and millions of others got good work in war industries. Therefore, by the 1940s, the rate of unionisation peaked at 35 per cent of the labour force. Beginning in the 1950s, continued attacks by employers, right-wing groups and sometimes less-friendly governments, led to a slow decline in unionisation. Attacks accelerated after the 1973-75 oil crisis and the unionisation rate fell to 20 per cent in 1983, 12 per cent in 2009, and 11 per cent in 2015. This union decline took place under both Republican and Democratic presidents. Today, unions are essentially a negligible economic and political force. With strong unions and the buoyant post-war economy, wages and incomes grew steadily through the 1950s, 60s and 70s. (Others) × The decline of unions is roughly paralleled by the decline and stagnation of wages and the working class standard of living. The labor market is stratified with many different wage levels, so while it’s true that incomes have increased for many working people, for the average worker and for those on the bottom, real wages have either declined or stagnated. With strong unions and the buoyant post-war economy, wages and incomes grew steadily through the 1950s and 1960s. In terms of the value of dollars in 2015, the real minimum wage peaked in 1968 at $ 10.85. It has fallen or stagnated since and today is $7.25. According to the Pew Research Center, the 2014 average hourly wage of $22.41 was the same in real terms as the $4.03-an-hour rate of 1973. No growth at all. The average household today has a net worth 14 per cent below that of 1984, according to the Russell Sage Foundation. Meanwhile, from 1973 to 2013 labour productivity has increased by 73 per cent. Thus, the country got richer but average working families did not. While labour productivity has increased over the decades and the country got richer, but average working families did not (Others) × So, the real question of the labour perspective under Trump or Clinton is whether they can change these long-run and deep-rooted tendencies. Republicans are traditionally a pro-business anti-labour party, and Trump’s presidential platform is typically anti-labour. It endorses an expansion of “right-to-work” laws, which effectively prevent unions from organising. Many Republicans would like to eliminate the legal minimum wage, and they oppose most regulatory statutes that protect working people. They argue that eliminating them and dropping wages will increase job opportunities, though the evidence from austerity programmes worldwide over the last 20 years provides no support for that. The Democratic Platform calls for an elimination of “right to work” laws and therefore an extension of unionisation. It also calls for raising the minimum wage to $15 per hour, doubling the current figure. They also support broader protections for working families and unions. The problem is that both unions and real wages have been undermined for the last forty years under both Republican and Democratic governments. There is no question that a Trump victory would be unfavourable for workers, but there is a question of whether a Clinton victory would help working families or not. Only time will tell. There is no question that a Trump victory would be unfavourable for workers, but there is a question of whether a Clinton victory would help working families or not. × Clinton and Trump differ on other issues that affect working families, but none more central than tax policy. Municipalities, counties, state, and the federal government all require money to operate and, by and large, that money comes from taxes. Governments can tax businesses as well as individuals. Individual taxes can take two forms: progressive and regressive. While the former can make those with higher incomes provide proportionately more taxes, the latter make those with lower incomes provide proportionately more. The principal progressive tax in the United States is the Federal Income Tax. When implemented in 1913, the tax rate on the highest incomes was only 7 per cent. Governments soon discovered a basic principle of taxation, which is you can’t get money from people who does not have money. So, if you want to finance government, you have to tax the wealthy. For that reason, with the Great Depression, Roosevelt brought the top tax rate up to 79 per cent in 1936, and then with World War II, to 94 per cent (it's expensive to fight wars). The top rate has been declining ever since: 77 per cent in 1964, 38.5 per cent in 1987, and 35 per cent from 2003 to 2012, though currently, under President Obama, it is 39.6 per cent. Cutting taxes on the rich make the rich richer and government poorer (Reuters) × Trump and the Republicans have all promised to cut taxes, claiming that it will help to restore growth and jobs. Though, as with wages, austerity programmes around the world over the last 40 years provide no evidence for this. Cutting taxes on the rich make the rich richer and government poorer. Trump has said he would cut the top individual rate to 25 per cent and the top corporate rate to 15 per cent while also eliminating the estate tax, a tax that disproportionately affects the wealthy. The Democratic Party, on the other hand, has expressed support for the progressive income tax and the principle that the wealthy should pay a greater per cent of their income in taxes. The Government has many expenses. So, when taxes on the wealthy are cut, a government must either cut spending which, incidentally, is the favoured position of the Republican programme, or raise regressive taxes, which incommensurably affect the poor. Historically speaking, most spending cuts do disproportionately hurt the poor. This has for long been evident, for instance, when welfare was slashed in the 1980s, or in reduced spending in education, particularly, in Republicans controlled states. The wealthy have the option of sending children to private schools, an option closed to the poor. Historically speaking, most spending cuts do disproportionately hurt the poor. × Here are many other policy issues – health care, education, retirement benefits, social security, climate change – that affect working people, but unions, wages, and taxes are the most immediate and direct. That said, nobody can predict the future. Future growth rates, technological change, climate change, and the political activities of the working class itself are at least as important, if not more, as government policy. Furthermore, once in office, candidates change as the real world impinges. A candidate may say one thing, but once in power, may do another. Furthermore, and as of this writing, Trump has only a miniscule chance of winning the election after insulting African-Americans, Latinos, immigrants, Muslims, the disabled, women, and many leaders in his own party. Nonetheless, the problem for the working class remains. After 40 years of declining or stagnating growth rates, declining rates of unionisation, and declining or stagnating real wages, can even a Clinton presidency reverse these trends? There is nothing among her policies to suggest they will.

The 2016 US election: Labour unions and working class wages

We don&rsquo;t know who is going to win the race to the White House - Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump. We have no idea which&nbsp;all industries and sectors are actually going to be benefited after the next US president is chosen. It could range from hospitality to defence to aviation to health, or could be all of them. But technology, we doubt.

In fact, we believe that the technology sector is going to bear the brunt of it. Because unfortunately, both the leading presidential candidates in the US election, time and again, have brought embarrassment upon themselves on issues that deal with technology. In other words, both Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump are clearly not tech-savvy. And we have all the reasons to believe so. Watch it for yourself.
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Watch the video here to know who beats the other

We don’t know who is going to win the race to the White House - Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump. We have no idea which all industries and sectors are actually going to be benefited after the next US president is chosen. It could range from hospitality to defence to aviation to health, or could be all of them. But technology, we doubt. In fact, we believe that the technology sector is going to bear the brunt of it. Because unfortunately, both the leading presidential candidates in the US election, time and again, have brought embarrassment upon themselves on issues that deal with technology. In other words, both Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump are clearly not tech-savvy. And we have all the reasons to believe so. Watch it for yourself.

Donald Trump vs Hillary Clinton: Who is more technologically challenged?

Donald Trump is the Republican Party nominee for the President of the United States in the 2016 election.

A business magnate, Trump is at the helm of Trump Organization, focusing mainly on real estate ventures.

Trump&#39;s presidential campaign has brought forth his strong position against unlawful immigration.

To make America safe, Trump argues for stringent refugee policy, limiting entry of Muslims from countries with a proven history of terrorism.

Trump wants re-negotiation of fair trade deals to create American jobs, increase American wages and reduce America&#39;s trade deficit.

He has been particularly critical of NAFTA and US&#39;s current trade dynamics with China.

He proposes a &nbsp;pro-growth tax plan and envisions an energy-independent US that will feel no need to import energy from the OPEC cartel or any nations hostile to American interests.

Increasing the size of the US army and enhancing the country&#39;s cyber defence capacity have been core planks of Trump&#39;s defense strategy.

His&nbsp;hairstyle, as much as his comments, has&nbsp;attracted media attention in the recent past.

Real estate mogul-turned-politician, Republican Donald Trump has been controversy's favourite child this election season

Donald Trump is the Republican Party nominee for the President of the United States in the 2016 election. A business magnate, Trump is at the helm of Trump Organization, focusing mainly on real estate ventures. Trump's presidential campaign has brought forth his strong position against unlawful immigration. To make America safe, Trump argues for stringent refugee policy, limiting entry of Muslims from countries with a proven history of terrorism. Trump wants re-negotiation of fair trade deals to create American jobs, increase American wages and reduce America's trade deficit. He has been particularly critical of NAFTA and US's current trade dynamics with China. He proposes a pro-growth tax plan and envisions an energy-independent US that will feel no need to import energy from the OPEC cartel or any nations hostile to American interests. Increasing the size of the US army and enhancing the country's cyber defence capacity have been core planks of Trump's defense strategy. His hairstyle, as much as his comments, has attracted media attention in the recent past.

Who is Donald Trump?

US&nbsp;Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump criticised Democrat Hillary Clinton on Thursday over her trade policies, saying she would handle trade deals so badly that the country should &quot;just cancel the election&quot; and name him the victor.

Speaking to supporters in Toledo, Ohio, Trump said the North American Free Trade Agreement signed by Clinton&#39;s husband, former President Bill Clinton, had led to the outsourcing of thousands of Ohio jobs to Mexico, a practice he vowed to stop if elected president on Nov. 8.

&quot;We should just cancel the election and just give it to Trump, right?&quot; he said. &quot;What are we even having it for? Her policies are so bad.&quot;

Trump said he believed Clinton would seek passage of the 12-nation Trans Pacific Partnership, President Barack Obama&#39;s signature Asian trade deal, which she now opposes.

Trump&#39;s remarks came as the New York businessman tries to steady rocky poll numbers amid a series of controversies and self-inflicted wounds.

He has struggled to handle the fallout from the release of a 2005 &quot;Access Hollywood&quot; video that showed the then-reality TV star talking on an open microphone about groping women and trying to seduce a married woman. The video was taped only months after Trump married his third wife, Melania.

Trump said on Thursday it was &quot;certainly illegal&quot; for NBC to release the tape and he left open the option of seeking legal action against the network after the election.

Since the video&#39;s release, a series of women have accused Trump of groping them or kissing them without their consent. Trump has called the allegations &quot;absolutely false.&quot;

The latest RealClearPolitics poll average showed Clinton with a nearly 6-point national lead over Trump, fueled by declining support among women for his candidacy.

Trump, without evidence, has blamed his sagging poll numbers on a rigged election, and said the media had fixed the opinion polls in order to inflate Clinton&#39;s numbers.

Numerous studies have shown that voter fraud in U.S. elections is very rare, and a number of prominent Republicans have denounced Trump&#39;s claim that the system is unsound.

While Trump campaigned in Ohio, a plane carrying his running mate, Indiana Governor Mike Pence, skidded off the runway after landing at New York City&#39;s LaGuardia Airport on Thursday night. There were no injuries, the Pence campaign said.

Stumping the first lady

Clinton on Thursday made her first joint campaign appearance with one of her most powerful supporters, first lady Michelle Obama, at a North Carolina rally to urge young people and women to vote.

Clinton, a former first lady who lost the 2008 Democratic nomination to then-U.S. Senator Barack Obama before becoming his secretary of state, praised Michelle Obama for standing up for the rights of girls and women worldwide, drawing a sharp contrast with her Republican rival.

&quot;I wish I didn&#39;t have to say this. ... But indeed, dignity and respect for women and girls is also on the ballot in this election,&quot; Clinton told a crowd of about 11,000. &quot;And I want to thank our first lady for her eloquent, powerful defense of that basic value.&quot;

Michelle Obama&#39;s stinging denunciation of Trump after a leaked 2005 video showed him making lewd remarks and bragging about groping women was seen by many as one of the campaign&#39;s most striking condemnations of the New York businessman.

Without naming Trump, Obama took him to task again in North Carolina, asking the crowd which candidate they wanted to represent their daughters from the White House.

&quot;We want a president who takes this job seriously, and has the temperament and maturity to do it well. Someone who is steady. Someone who we can trust with the nuclear codes,&quot; Obama said.

&quot;I would not be here lying to you: I believe with all of my heart that Hillary Clinton will be that president,&quot; she said.

Although Michelle Obama was critical of Clinton during the hard-fought 2008 Democratic nominating race, any trace of bitterness appeared long behind them. The two women showed an easy rapport. They embraced and smiled. Obama called Clinton &quot;my girl&quot; and made a point of telling the crowd they were tight.

&quot;If people wonder: Yes, Hillary Clinton is my friend,&quot; she said.

Clinton promised to take good care of Obama&#39;s White House vegetable garden if she won and wistfully praised the athletic first lady&#39;s dancing skills. &quot;One could only hope,&quot; Clinton said.

She also lauded Obama&#39;s work for children and military families and in what was perhaps a nod to African-Americans she hopes will vote for her in the state, said Obama had faced challenges she had not as a presidential spouse.

&quot;Let&#39;s be real. As our first African-American first lady, she&#39;s faced pressures I never did, and she&#39;s handled them with pure grace,&quot; Clinton said to applause.

Although a sometimes reluctant campaigner, the first lady has thrown herself into the race, and the Clinton campaign has deployed her strategically to increase support among young people and blacks, with whom she is especially popular.

(Reuters)

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

'What are we even having it for? Her (Clinton's) policies are so bad,' he said

US Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump criticised Democrat Hillary Clinton on Thursday over her trade policies, saying she would handle trade deals so badly that the country should "just cancel the election" and name him the victor. Speaking to supporters in Toledo, Ohio, Trump said the North American Free Trade Agreement signed by Clinton's husband, former President Bill Clinton, had led to the outsourcing of thousands of Ohio jobs to Mexico, a practice he vowed to stop if elected president on Nov. 8. "We should just cancel the election and just give it to Trump, right?" he said. "What are we even having it for? Her policies are so bad." Trump said he believed Clinton would seek passage of the 12-nation Trans Pacific Partnership, President Barack Obama's signature Asian trade deal, which she now opposes. Trump's remarks came as the New York businessman tries to steady rocky poll numbers amid a series of controversies and self-inflicted wounds. He has struggled to handle the fallout from the release of a 2005 "Access Hollywood" video that showed the then-reality TV star talking on an open microphone about groping women and trying to seduce a married woman. The video was taped only months after Trump married his third wife, Melania. Trump said on Thursday it was "certainly illegal" for NBC to release the tape and he left open the option of seeking legal action against the network after the election. Since the video's release, a series of women have accused Trump of groping them or kissing them without their consent. Trump has called the allegations "absolutely false." The latest RealClearPolitics poll average showed Clinton with a nearly 6-point national lead over Trump, fueled by declining support among women for his candidacy. Trump, without evidence, has blamed his sagging poll numbers on a rigged election, and said the media had fixed the opinion polls in order to inflate Clinton's numbers. Numerous studies have shown that voter fraud in U.S. elections is very rare, and a number of prominent Republicans have denounced Trump's claim that the system is unsound. While Trump campaigned in Ohio, a plane carrying his running mate, Indiana Governor Mike Pence, skidded off the runway after landing at New York City's LaGuardia Airport on Thursday night. There were no injuries, the Pence campaign said. Stumping the first lady Clinton on Thursday made her first joint campaign appearance with one of her most powerful supporters, first lady Michelle Obama, at a North Carolina rally to urge young people and women to vote. Clinton, a former first lady who lost the 2008 Democratic nomination to then-U.S. Senator Barack Obama before becoming his secretary of state, praised Michelle Obama for standing up for the rights of girls and women worldwide, drawing a sharp contrast with her Republican rival. "I wish I didn't have to say this. ... But indeed, dignity and respect for women and girls is also on the ballot in this election," Clinton told a crowd of about 11,000. "And I want to thank our first lady for her eloquent, powerful defense of that basic value." Michelle Obama's stinging denunciation of Trump after a leaked 2005 video showed him making lewd remarks and bragging about groping women was seen by many as one of the campaign's most striking condemnations of the New York businessman. Without naming Trump, Obama took him to task again in North Carolina, asking the crowd which candidate they wanted to represent their daughters from the White House. "We want a president who takes this job seriously, and has the temperament and maturity to do it well. Someone who is steady. Someone who we can trust with the nuclear codes," Obama said. "I would not be here lying to you: I believe with all of my heart that Hillary Clinton will be that president," she said. Although Michelle Obama was critical of Clinton during the hard-fought 2008 Democratic nominating race, any trace of bitterness appeared long behind them. The two women showed an easy rapport. They embraced and smiled. Obama called Clinton "my girl" and made a point of telling the crowd they were tight. "If people wonder: Yes, Hillary Clinton is my friend," she said. Clinton promised to take good care of Obama's White House vegetable garden if she won and wistfully praised the athletic first lady's dancing skills. "One could only hope," Clinton said. She also lauded Obama's work for children and military families and in what was perhaps a nod to African-Americans she hopes will vote for her in the state, said Obama had faced challenges she had not as a presidential spouse. "Let's be real. As our first African-American first lady, she's faced pressures I never did, and she's handled them with pure grace," Clinton said to applause. Although a sometimes reluctant campaigner, the first lady has thrown herself into the race, and the Clinton campaign has deployed her strategically to increase support among young people and blacks, with whom she is especially popular. (Reuters)

Trump says 'just cancel the election', name him victor

Donald Trump abruptly postponed his planned announcement today of his vice presidential running mate because of a deadly truck attack in France, but Republican sources said his choice was expected to be Indiana Governor Mike Pence. 
 
Viewed as a safe pair of hands, Pence, 57, has diverging views with Trump on his proposed Muslim ban and trade, and is more socially conservative, but he could help unify a divided party behind Trump&#39;s White House bid. 
 
Trump was due to make his official announcement on his choice today at 11am (1500 GMT) in Manhattan. But he tweeted on Thursday night that the attack in Nice, where a truck slammed into a crowd, killing dozens of people, prompted him to delay. 
 
&quot;In light of the horrible attack in Nice, France, I have postponed tomorrow&#39;s news conference concerning my vice presidential announcement,&quot; said Trump. He said in a Fox News interview: &quot;We will announce tomorrow when it will be.&quot; 
 
Trump, who has proposed banning Muslims from &quot;terror states&quot; from entering the United States, said in another Fox News interview that the attack in France showed the United States and the rest of the world needed to get tougher in the fight against Islamist militants. 
 
&quot;This has to be dealt with very harshly,&quot; Trump said. 
 
He told Fox News he had not made a &quot;final, final decision&quot; on a running mate. He heaped praise on Pence and his other two finalists, former House of Representatives Speaker Newt Gingrich and New Jersey Governor Chris Christie. 
 
&quot;I&#39;ve got three people that are fantastic,&quot; he said. 
 
Trump&#39;s advisers told national party officials that he had settled on Pence, according to two Republican sources familiar with the campaign&#39;s operations. 
 
&quot;I&#39;m told he&#39;s been asked to do this and he&#39;s flying to New York,&quot; one source said. Pence was seen by TV networks arriving at a New York-area airport. 
 
Straight Man 
 
Trump&#39;s choice of running mate is seen as especially critical because his defeat of 16 rivals in the Republican primary race left the party divided. Some party leaders are still uneasy about some of his campaign positions and free-wheeling statements, such as his comments on Muslims and immigrants. 
 
&quot;Pence is Donald Trump&#39;s straight man,&quot; said Republican strategist Ron Bonjean. &quot;He&#39;ll be able to defend him as well as be a cheerleader but do it in a calm, cool, collected manner that will preserve his credibility.&quot; 
 
Gingrich, who met Trump on Wednesday, said on a Facebook Live session that he had yet to hear from Trump. He said he had told Trump that he needed to decide whether he wanted &quot;two pirates&quot; on the same ticket. Both men have been political mavericks. 
 
Christie, a former rival to Trump in the presidential race, told MSNBC earlier he would be disappointed if not picked. &ldquo;I&#39;m not going to say it won&#39;t bother me if I&#39;m not selected. Of course it bothers you a little bit.&quot; 
 
Pence, a former congressman, is seen as a safe choice, not too flashy but popular among conservatives, with Midwestern appeal and the ability to rally more party faithful behind Trump. The businessman has never held elected office. 
 
&quot;He&rsquo;s a good, safe, solid conservative,&quot; said Republican strategist Scott Reed. 
 
Pence also could give a boost to Trump&#39;s campaign fundraising efforts as he challenges the well-organized effort of his Democratic rival, Hillary Clinton. Pence has strong ties to billionaire donors Charles and David Koch, including current and former staff members who have worked for them. 
 
Differences between the two 
 
But Pence is to the right of Trump on social issues, having signed restrictive abortion legislation and pushed to defund the Planned Parenthood women&#39;s healthcare organization, whose services include providing abortions. Trump has said he opposes abortion, but his views have been inconsistent, and he has said Planned Parenthood provides some valuable services. 
 
Pence has also criticized Trump&rsquo;s proposal to ban Muslims temporarily from entering the country. In 2006, he introduced immigration legislation that would let illegal immigrants apply for U.S. work visas if they left the country for a period, a plan that was criticised by some conservatives. That contrasts with Trump&#39;s strong stance on immigration, marked by his pledge to build a wall along the border with Mexico. 
 
Pence has also voiced support for free trade deals like the Trans Pacific Partnership. Trump supports free trade but says he wants to renegotiate trade deals to make them more favorable to the United States. 
 
Pence had backed a Trump rival, Senator Ted Cruz of Texas, in April before the Indiana primary, but he praised Trump and said he would work on behalf of the eventual Republican nominee. Trump won Indiana anyway, prompting Cruz to drop out of the race to be the party&#39;s nominee. 
 
Pence had considered running for president himself in 2016 before deciding to run for re-election as governor. Conservatives had urged him to seek the White House, but missteps last year related to an Indiana law seen as anti-gay hurt his national profile. 
 
This year, he was the target of a mocking social media campaign by women outraged at a law he signed creating new restrictions on abortions. Feeling that the law invaded their privacy, women responded by calling Pence&#39;s office to describe their menstrual periods or tweeting similar messages. 
 
Pence ran unsuccessfully for Congress twice before he won election to the House of Representatives in 2000, where he was chairman of the Republican Study Committee, a group of conservatives. 
 
(Reuters)

Probable candidate Governor Mike Pence has divergent views with Trump on his proposed Muslim ban but he could help unify a divided party

Donald Trump abruptly postponed his planned announcement today of his vice presidential running mate because of a deadly truck attack in France, but Republican sources said his choice was expected to be Indiana Governor Mike Pence. Viewed as a safe pair of hands, Pence, 57, has diverging views with Trump on his proposed Muslim ban and trade, and is more socially conservative, but he could help unify a divided party behind Trump's White House bid. Trump was due to make his official announcement on his choice today at 11am (1500 GMT) in Manhattan. But he tweeted on Thursday night that the attack in Nice, where a truck slammed into a crowd, killing dozens of people, prompted him to delay. "In light of the horrible attack in Nice, France, I have postponed tomorrow's news conference concerning my vice presidential announcement," said Trump. He said in a Fox News interview: "We will announce tomorrow when it will be." Trump, who has proposed banning Muslims from "terror states" from entering the United States, said in another Fox News interview that the attack in France showed the United States and the rest of the world needed to get tougher in the fight against Islamist militants. "This has to be dealt with very harshly," Trump said. He told Fox News he had not made a "final, final decision" on a running mate. He heaped praise on Pence and his other two finalists, former House of Representatives Speaker Newt Gingrich and New Jersey Governor Chris Christie. "I've got three people that are fantastic," he said. Trump's advisers told national party officials that he had settled on Pence, according to two Republican sources familiar with the campaign's operations. "I'm told he's been asked to do this and he's flying to New York," one source said. Pence was seen by TV networks arriving at a New York-area airport. Straight Man Trump's choice of running mate is seen as especially critical because his defeat of 16 rivals in the Republican primary race left the party divided. Some party leaders are still uneasy about some of his campaign positions and free-wheeling statements, such as his comments on Muslims and immigrants. "Pence is Donald Trump's straight man," said Republican strategist Ron Bonjean. "He'll be able to defend him as well as be a cheerleader but do it in a calm, cool, collected manner that will preserve his credibility." Gingrich, who met Trump on Wednesday, said on a Facebook Live session that he had yet to hear from Trump. He said he had told Trump that he needed to decide whether he wanted "two pirates" on the same ticket. Both men have been political mavericks. Christie, a former rival to Trump in the presidential race, told MSNBC earlier he would be disappointed if not picked. “I'm not going to say it won't bother me if I'm not selected. Of course it bothers you a little bit." Pence, a former congressman, is seen as a safe choice, not too flashy but popular among conservatives, with Midwestern appeal and the ability to rally more party faithful behind Trump. The businessman has never held elected office. "He’s a good, safe, solid conservative," said Republican strategist Scott Reed. Pence also could give a boost to Trump's campaign fundraising efforts as he challenges the well-organized effort of his Democratic rival, Hillary Clinton. Pence has strong ties to billionaire donors Charles and David Koch, including current and former staff members who have worked for them. Differences between the two But Pence is to the right of Trump on social issues, having signed restrictive abortion legislation and pushed to defund the Planned Parenthood women's healthcare organization, whose services include providing abortions. Trump has said he opposes abortion, but his views have been inconsistent, and he has said Planned Parenthood provides some valuable services. Pence has also criticized Trump’s proposal to ban Muslims temporarily from entering the country. In 2006, he introduced immigration legislation that would let illegal immigrants apply for U.S. work visas if they left the country for a period, a plan that was criticised by some conservatives. That contrasts with Trump's strong stance on immigration, marked by his pledge to build a wall along the border with Mexico. Pence has also voiced support for free trade deals like the Trans Pacific Partnership. Trump supports free trade but says he wants to renegotiate trade deals to make them more favorable to the United States. Pence had backed a Trump rival, Senator Ted Cruz of Texas, in April before the Indiana primary, but he praised Trump and said he would work on behalf of the eventual Republican nominee. Trump won Indiana anyway, prompting Cruz to drop out of the race to be the party's nominee. Pence had considered running for president himself in 2016 before deciding to run for re-election as governor. Conservatives had urged him to seek the White House, but missteps last year related to an Indiana law seen as anti-gay hurt his national profile. This year, he was the target of a mocking social media campaign by women outraged at a law he signed creating new restrictions on abortions. Feeling that the law invaded their privacy, women responded by calling Pence's office to describe their menstrual periods or tweeting similar messages. Pence ran unsuccessfully for Congress twice before he won election to the House of Representatives in 2000, where he was chairman of the Republican Study Committee, a group of conservatives. (Reuters)

Trump postpones vice presidential running mate pick after Nice terror attack

US President Barack Obama will hit the campaign trail for the first time with presumptive Democratic White House nominee Hillary Clinton next Tuesday in North Carolina, her staff announced. 
 
&quot;In Charlotte, President Obama and Hillary Clinton will discuss building on the progress we&#39;ve made and their vision for an America that is stronger together,&quot; Clinton&#39;s campaign said in a statement. 
 
Their debut joint campaign appearance for the 2016 election had been scheduled for June 15 in the state of Wisconsin, but was postponed due to the massacre in Orlando, Florida - the worst mass shooting in US history. 
 
Obama came out and endorsed Clinton on June 9 after months of assiduously avoiding tipping the scales of the Democratic presidential primaries. 
 
&quot;I don&#39;t think there&#39;s ever been someone so qualified to hold this office,&quot; Obama said in a video message that day as he offered his full-throated endorsement of the former secretary of state, senator and first lady. 
 
&quot;I&#39;m with her, I am fired up, and I cannot wait to get out there and campaign for Hillary,&quot; added Obama, who won a brutal, months-long Democratic primary battle against Clinton in 2008. 
 
Their joint appearance comes with US Senator Bernie Sanders refusing to bow out of the race for the Democratic nomination, despite rival Clinton amassing the necessary number of delegates to clinch it outright at next month&#39;s party convention. 
 
Clinton, aiming to make history as the nation&#39;s first female commander in chief, is expected to square off against Republican billionaire businessman Donald Trump in November&#39;s general election. 
 
(AFP)

The two were scheduled to hit the campaign trail together June 15, but delayed because of the Orlando massacre

US President Barack Obama will hit the campaign trail for the first time with presumptive Democratic White House nominee Hillary Clinton next Tuesday in North Carolina, her staff announced. "In Charlotte, President Obama and Hillary Clinton will discuss building on the progress we've made and their vision for an America that is stronger together," Clinton's campaign said in a statement. Their debut joint campaign appearance for the 2016 election had been scheduled for June 15 in the state of Wisconsin, but was postponed due to the massacre in Orlando, Florida - the worst mass shooting in US history. Obama came out and endorsed Clinton on June 9 after months of assiduously avoiding tipping the scales of the Democratic presidential primaries. "I don't think there's ever been someone so qualified to hold this office," Obama said in a video message that day as he offered his full-throated endorsement of the former secretary of state, senator and first lady. "I'm with her, I am fired up, and I cannot wait to get out there and campaign for Hillary," added Obama, who won a brutal, months-long Democratic primary battle against Clinton in 2008. Their joint appearance comes with US Senator Bernie Sanders refusing to bow out of the race for the Democratic nomination, despite rival Clinton amassing the necessary number of delegates to clinch it outright at next month's party convention. Clinton, aiming to make history as the nation's first female commander in chief, is expected to square off against Republican billionaire businessman Donald Trump in November's general election. (AFP)

Obama, Clinton to make first joint campaign stop next week: official