Voters should choose based on character

As hard as it is to imagine, a sizable segment of the voting public has yet to decide on their presidential choice. By some polling, that undecided voting bloc may approach 10 percent.

At the same time, an estimated 10 percent of voters have taken advantage of early voting laws and have already cast their ballots.

Given the most recent revelations concerning the Clinton campaign, some of those voters may well be feeling buyers' remorse at this point.

Having absorbed enough October surprises to boggle the mind, many observers are awaiting yet additional bombshells in the closing days from both campaigns.

So just what do we know now that we didn't know a week ago?

We know without a doubt that the Clinton team plays loose and fast with the rules. And without a doubt, the Clinton team is aided in this shadow world with the full support of the Justice Department.

That shady partnership makes for comparisons with the Nixon White House and their hide-and-seek shenanigans as the Watergate scandal unfolded drip by drip.

At this point, the FBI bombshell to reopen the Clinton investigation remains a mystery that has cast yet another cloud over this critical race.

There is but one aspect of this entire national nightmare that is certain. Had Hillary Clinton obeyed the law and not hid sensitive government information on a private email server, none of this would be happening.

The chaos that has followed and that threatens a national upheaval falls squarely into Hillary Clinton's lap.

No ands, ifs or buts!

So as the clock ticks toward the finish line, the central issue of trust that has dogged the Clintons remains the topic of discussion.

Voters may still have concerns over Donald Trump's shoot-from-the-hip approach and his less-than-polished style.

But how do you compare those concerns with the full understanding and massive evidence that Hillary Clinton is an opportunist with a penchant for misrepresenting the truth?

A presidential election that should be weighed on issues of policy is now clearly a campaign of character.

Though both camps are abundantly flawed, the foundational decision among voters should be on the character of the next leader of our nation.

I have held steady to the same belief that started this campaign. Trump is a less than ideal candidate with a lack of experience at this level that should be concerning.

But Hillary Clinton has used her tenure and experience to enrich her family and promote her agenda far outside of legal bounds.

I may not like Trump but I distrust Clinton. That makes the choice an easy one.

Michael Jensen is the publisher of the Sikeston Standard Democrat.