By Britt Nelson

Editor’s note: The views expressed by guest columnists are not necessarily those of The Costa Rica Star, its advertisers, or its staff.

In a surprising turn of events, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has a 2-point nationwide lead over Democratic challenger Hillary Clinton, according to a new poll released Sunday by the L.A. Times and the University of Southern California.

For weeks, Clinton had been ahead in the same poll, but this week has seen Trump in the trenches in the Louisiana flooding, the worst natural disaster since Tropical Storm Sandy hit New Jersey a few years back. Meanwhile, Clinton was hawking for money at campaign events and President Obama was playing golf on vacation in Massachusetts, both with little time for a disaster involving real Americans. News reports say President Obama will visit the area on Tuesday, but as a ‘Johnny come lately.’

Other polls released in the past week, however, show Clinton ahead of Trump nationwide by up to 6 points. With five weeks until the first debate between Clinton and Trump on Sept. 26, the polls across the board are showing a definite tightening of the race. It’s getting closer and closer to becoming a 50 – 50 race to be the next President of the United States. At this point, the Nov. 8 general election will be a hell-raising nail biter.

It’s interesting to note that when Trump went to Louisiana in the aftermath of the widespread flooding, he went virtually undetected without an entourage like the one President Obama travels with everywhere he goes. The mainstream media, as expected, said Trump was there only as a photo opportunity to brag on himself. Trying to cover for President Obama, Democratic Louisiana Gov. John Edwards said it wasn’t a good time for the president to visit; however, Trump was welcome as long as he behaved himself.

“Because it helped to shine a spotlight on Louisiana and on the dire situation that we have here … it was helpful,” Edwards said speaking on Trump’s visit, as reported by WPTZ – NBC TV NEWS 5. Gov. Edwards expressed no criticism of Trump for coming to the flood ravaged areas, unlike the mainstream media.

On Aug 14, in central and southern Louisiana more than 31 inches of rain fell in one day causing massive flooding with 13 deaths and the ruin of more than 60,000 homes in and around Baton Rouge. This flooding has left big-time grief with parents scrambling for money and shelter while their children have no schools to go to. The long-term effects of this disaster will be felt for months to come. More than 60,000 residents have filed for financial aid, according to Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

Trump brought with him a large truck load of food and supplies for those families in shelters and toys for children that he helped distribute to flood victims. Say what you will about Trump going to Louisiana. He did not have to go. He could have been out begging for money or on the golf course, but he went.

With Trump was his vice-presidential running mate Indiana Gov. Mike Pence, who also slogged through the mud and walked into flood ravaged homes hugging victims. Gov. Edwards also praised Pence, who joined the visit.

“I also appreciated the good phone call, the conversation that I had with Gov. Pence, who was sincere and genuine when he called, and we spoke for a long time on Friday morning about their desire to be helpful,” said Gov. Edwards.

It’s apparent that the President of the United States needs to cut the entourage, keep the Secret Service protection and on occasion learn to travel in a more stealth way. On some trips, a small private jet acting as Air Force One would be better. A president’s presence should be both emotional and supportive in whatever situation he presents himself in, whether it’s after a terrorist attack in San Bernardino or Orlando, or perhaps massive flooding in Louisiana. Over the years, President Obama has not done a good job in this regard. He’s always too late, but he’s quick to come on national TV when a police officer in America shoots and kills a black man pointing a gun at cops. He’s fast draw McGraw when it comes to the Black Lives Matter nonsense.
And don’t forget, like the mainstream media already has, that at least 51 people, including 22 children, were killed in Turkey on Saturday night by a pre-teen Islamic terrorist suicide bomber during an innocent wedding ceremony.

Turkish authorities said the bomber was a boy about 10 to 12 years old. On the same weekend, Clinton was begging for campaign funding while the President played golf and partied on Martha’s Vineyard.

Trump never stops talking about the threat of radical Islamic terrorism. In this regard, all Clinton cares about is raising more money for more negative TV advertising against Trump. Trump does the same thing, but this week we saw him actually showing up in the muddy mess and getting his hands dirty in support of regular everyday Americans who have wholeheartedly boarded the Trump Train to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. You know what they say, 90 percent of life is just showing up on time.

P.S. Last week’s column about President Obama banning the Pledge of Allegiance turned out to be a hoax. Sorry about that. From Costa Rica, it’s hard to tell the difference between real and fake news these days.

About the author

Britt Nelson relocated to Costa Rica in 2011 from Florida, where he served as news editor for thePalatka Daily News, a newspaper owned by the New York Times Regional Newspaper Group (NYT-RNG) for 20 years.

Nelson served the NYT-RNG for 18 years in Tennessee, Kentucky, Virginia, North Carolina and Florida as a correspondent, reporter, staff writer, senior staff writer training new reporters, copy editor, page designer, editorial writer, editorial page editor and editorial board member.