IN his bid to cross the bridge to the White House, the Republican candidate has played his cards poorly. Wild bidding is never good tactics, and expensive suits and diamond cuff-links do not take many tricks.

He has sought to club his opponent with accusations of cheating, while denying any false declarations himself. His promised wall of defence against the South soon crumbled, his threats to club the Middle East did not convince, and his support for the West was half-hearted. Trying to call a spade a spade merely dug his electoral grave deeper and doubled the chance of failure.

So on November 8 let’s hope the American people vote with their heads, not their hearts, and bid a strong No Trump.

Iain AD Mann,

7 Kelvin Court, Glasgow.