Trump's ultimate enormity

Donald Trump has upped the ante in the most bizarre and dishonest election campaign in living memory.

Recently, he has increasingly come to rely on the idea that, if he loses (and, of course, only if he loses), then the election must have been rigged. This dates back to the beginning of August, when he first mooted the idea: "I'm afraid the election is going to be rigged, I have to be honest." He followed up on Fox News: "I'm telling you, November 8, we'd better be careful, because that election is going to be rigged. And I hope the Republicans are watching closely, or it’s going to be taken away from us."

This is Trump's idea of damage limitation, of an exit strategy. It can't be called a graceful or elegant strategy, exactly, but it is his way of excusing, even denying, his failure.

It may be his most pernicious and egregious ploy yet.