US Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton reacts after speaking at a campaign event at Temple University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US, Sept 19, 2016. [Photo/Agencies] |
Clinton said Tuesday that recent violent attacks show that "to defeat the terrorists, we need experienced, steady leadership."
Dan Mahaffee, an analyst with the Center for the Study of the Presidency and Congress, told Xinhua that in the aftermath of the recent attacks, there is a chance that Trump could benefit from increased attention to security issues.
But there is a danger that Trump could overplay the issue and raise further concerns about his temperament in time of crisis, Mahaffee noted.
Experts said it remains unknown whether Trump will rise in the polls and climb ahead of Clinton after the latest incidents.
There could be a limit to any bounce in the polls on this topic, as the voters who have made their minds up will not be swayed one way or another and will continue to support their preferred candidate, Mahaffee said.
Julian Zelizer, professor of history and public affairs at Princeton University, told Xinhua that it's unknown now if the politics of fear will play into Trump's warnings about immigrants and Muslims, or if public concerns over safety will cause more voters to be concerned about Trump's erratic and vitriolic rhetoric and to seek experience and stability.
"We don't know right now," Zelizer said. "My guess is that he will bring the issue full circle ... claiming he will be tougher against the threat."