Hillary Clinton

I've had walking pneumonia, and was able to go back to work as it ran its course (that's what you do in the US, you don't get masses of sick leave).

Daphne... that is hilarious!

Also, there are news bites now that it was a body-double who appeared outside Chelsea's apartment building in NYC. Yeah...right.

Donald Trump has persistently commented on Hilary Clinton's health suggesting that she is literally unfit to be President. This is surely the most likely reason for her to play down the fact that she has pneumonia. I would guess that she considered attending the ceremony in New York on 11 September particularly important and didn't want to hand DT a weapon to fire at her by missing it. Incidentally, overheating happens a lot when someone is suffering from pneumonia. I recall being plunged into a just about tepid bath and then draped with a wet sheet in bed in front of an open window. Fortunately, pneumonia is usually quickly treated except in the case of the extremely elderly (that's why it's called "the old man's friend") or those with some other serious health problems.

Putin,Corbyn,Trump Mugabe, Assad . A vision of hell on earth. I'm sure there are others.

I like that one!

I liked this

Well, perhaps she thinks that if people think she won't be up to the job physically, they won't vote for her. Seems reasonable to me.

I don't think they are doing though, sunseeker. Most people accept the need to play down health issues when something this important is at stake.

Ana it may have been seen as a sign of weakness by some but most people accept politicians are human and do get ill - now everyone will talk about the lie rather than the fact she was ill.

If she has to withdraw due to ill health can another candidate take her place or does Trump automatically win?

I don't understand why it was necessary to lie about her health.

Ill-health on the campaign trail could and would be seen as a sign of weakness by many of Hillary's detractors, and used against her.

She was apparently diagnosed with pneumonia on Friday but instead of resting decided to continue her campaign. After she collapsed her aides issued a statement saying she was overheated, although they knew the real reason. I don't understand why it was necessary to lie about her health. Personally I don't know which of the candidates frightens me more!

I would think she is probably exhausted by all the travelling, talking and almost bullying which appears to be happening in America at the moment. The people we see seem to be so full of a kind of hatred, although I accept we only see a few who are in the crowds on t.v. Let us hope she recovers quickly and wins the election, heaven help America if not, is all I can say.

Trump and Corbyn is a very strange combination to contemplate. Well, Trump is too awful to contemplate.

Unfortunately, I just can't see Hilary Clinton winning, I am pretty sure we will be saddled with Trump.

She has to get better quickly I can't bear the thought of Trump.

If she were already in office, I think it would be the Vice-President who would step up. That's what happened when JFK was assassinated and when Nixon resigned.

I wonder if the Democrats would be able to put Bernie Sanders forward as their candidate, if Hilary is too poorly to continue?

Actually, I'd spot him as a candidate for a heart attack....overweight, red faced...is he going to tell his blood pressure?

It doesn't sound good, does it?

I hope Hillary recovers, but maybe the Americans could do what the Russians allegedly did with Brezhnev. There are some people who claim that Brezhnev was already dead when he made his final appearance.

Trump as President is just too horrific to think about.

I really wish her the very best of health - and soon. (Please God)

Yes, Ana she would. I have a good American friend, a real West Coast liberal, who said she will vote for Hillary but with a peg on her nose.

She is very unpopular in many quarters - evidenced by the fact that she and Trump (of all people to be the Republican candidate) are 50/50 in the polls.

That's what's worrying me, Riverwalk. I'm not Hillary's biggest fan, but she'd be a far safer pair of hands than Trump, IMO.

I hope Hillary recovers - could be that Trump ends up president by default.

Would this be better in the "News and Politics" section than in the Books/Bookclub one?