Clinton stumbles! Trump surges! Sanders still alive? God bless America

Americans are watching in horror as the increasingly putrid and pernicious race for president of the United States stumbles along.

The two highly unlikable candidates who appear destined for the November ballot — Democrat Hillary Clinton and Republican Donald Trump — each day find new ways to alarm supporters and anger opponents.

▪ Clinton is a magnet for bad news.

The latest damning report on her reckless use of a private email server while she was secretary of state highlighted her continued lack of being honest and transparent with the American people on that issue. Forget the “everybody does it” excuse. Given cybersecurity concerns, she should have known much better, the State Department’s inspector general properly noted.

Meanwhile, back on the campaign trail, Clinton has plummeted in the California polls to a near-tie with Sen. Bernie Sanders just days before primaries are held in the nation’s most populated state.

Worse news for Clinton? Trump, who supposedly was “unelectable,” is catching up to her in national polls.

▪ Trump has found that — despite what vanquished GOP opponent Jeb Bush once said — he can insult his way to the presidency. Or at least the brink of it.

This week he continued with rants that were anti-women, anti-immigrant and anti-Native American, belittling Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren as “Pocahontas.” Trump’s supporters lustily cheered his shameful invective to show they are mad as hell at Washington, D.C. Or at least that’s their story.

In pro-Trump news, many Republican politicians and fat-cat donors who once said they wouldn’t unite behind him now are doing just that.

▪ And what of Sanders, the Democrat who keeps nipping at Clinton’s heels?

He’s still in the race, knocking Clinton often, essentially teaming up with the presumptive Republican presidential nominee on that task.

The “feel the Bern” folks also are overjoyed that Sanders might be able to debate Trump — yes, Trump — in the next few days. That would make Clinton look even more foolish for rejecting the opportunity to debate Sanders before the crucial June 7 California primary.

So what does all this mean?

Clinton will find her footing, easily slide past Sanders at the GOP convention and then whip Trump in November.

Or not. Who knows?

This downright ugly drama still has five-plus months to play out in full view of people already dreading that prospect.