Donald Trump to attack Bill Clinton's sexual history in debate
The Republican candidate tweets links to interviews with the ex-President's accusers and calls fellow Republicans "hypocrites".
Sunday 9 October 2016 20:47, UK
Donald Trump will face Hillary Clinton in the second televised debate tonight, with his campaign in renewed crisis over "horrific" comments he made about women.
The Republican presidential candidate has faced a wave of criticism from within his own party following the broadcast of a video from 2005.
The billionaire was recorded describing his attempt to seduce a married woman and of what he can do to women as a "star".
Republican senator Kelly Ayotte was among several who has called for him to drop out of the race, saying his words were advocating assault and she wanted her young daughter to know she did not support his comments.
Charlie Dent, chairman of the House Ethics Committee and a Republican from Pennsylvania, said there was still time for the party's members to rally behind an alternative to Mr Trump.
and Senator John McCain, were also among those who distanced themselves from the candidate.
The tycoon's running mate, Mike Pence, who many Republicans have said should now be the party's nominee, also put out a statement saying he could not condone or defend the remarks.
Mr Trump cancelled a planned appearance in Wisconsin on Saturday after an invitation by House Speaker Paul Ryan was withdrawn as a result of the controversy.
Mr Ryan's fundraising chief Spencer Zwick said he had been fielding calls from donors who "want help putting money together to fund a new person to be the GOP nominee".
But Donna Brazile, interim head of the Democratic National Committee, said some states had started their early voting and an attempt to change the names on ballots at this stage would be "very confusing" for voters.
Mr Trump has insisted he will "never withdraw" from the race for the White House and lashed out at the growing list of those backing away from him.
On Twitter, he called them "GOP traitors" and "self-righteous hypocrites", adding: "Watch their poll numbers - and elections - go down!"
And on Sunday his adviser, former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani, confirmed Mr Trump would show up for the debate and would stay in the race.
Mr Giuliani told NBC's Meet The Press that the Republican candidate felt "terrible".
But he also said that Mr Trump could bring up Bill Clinton's sexual history as he faces the former First Lady, adding that both candidates have personal lives that are embarrassing.
Mr Trump has retweeted interviews with three women who accuse Mr Clinton of sexually assaulting them, allegations that the former president has always denied.
The women describe Mrs Clinton as an "enabler" of her husband's alleged crimes and say they are "terrified" of her possible victory in the election.
Mr Trump's wife, Melania, who he had recently married at the time of the recording, has described her husband's comments as "unacceptable and offensive", but said she had accepted his apology.
In a video statement after the lewd comments emerged, Mr Trump promised to be a "better man".
He said: "Anyone who knows me knows these words don't reflect who I am. I said it, I was wrong and I apologise."
Mr Trump's history of comments about women were a feature of the first televised debate.
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Mrs Clinton was judged to have won the debate and has subsequently seen a surge in opinion polls.
And in swing states like Colorado, Mr Trump is suffering among women voters.
Brittany Pettersen, who represents a suburb on the edge of Denver in Colorado's House of Representatives, told Sky News: "I think that women are terrified at what is being openly discussed and how they are being treated and talked about."
Shawna Fritzler was a registered Republican for 25 years but gave up her affiliation this summer.
She said: "My 11-year-old daughter said to me: 'We're Republicans, right? Please, no matter what you do, please tell me you're not going to vote for Trump'."
But members of Colorado Women for Trump dismissed questions about his attitude to women.
Charlene Hardcastle said: "He's an equal opportunities offender, he's non-PC and that's what I love about him."
Loretta Perry added: "He's not a polished speaker, he's not a politician. He's done some wonderful things for lots of women, there's nobody perfect on this earth."
Meanwhile, interim UKIP leader Nigel Farage has waded into the crisis, insisting Mr Trump's remarks amounted to "alpha male boasting".
Speaking in St Louis, Missouri, where he is attending this weekend's televised presidential debate as a Trump supporter, the UK MEP said the comments were "ugly", but that women also make remarks they would not want to see reported.
:: You can watch the second presidential debate on Sky News from midnight. It will be repeated in full from 8am on Monday.