E Minus 23:  Speaking in Portsmouth, NH, yesterday, Donald Trump said he and Hillary Clinton should take a drug test before the next debate, and suggested that Clinton may have taken something before their last encounter.  Without any evidence to offer, Trump said, “We should take a drug test prior, because I don’t know what’s going on with her. But at the beginning of her last debate — she was all pumped up at the beginning, and at the end it was like, ‘Oh, take me down.’ She could barely reach her car.”

Trump continued to push his claim that the election is rigged and the press is a pack of liars. He tweeted early yesterday, “This election is being rigged by the media pushing false and unsubstantiated charges, and outright lies, in order to elect Crooked Hillary!” And he pursued his claim that Hillary Clinton should be in jail, “Instead she is running for president in what looks like a rigged election.”

Asking for comment about the day’s developments, the Trump campaign directed reporters to a statement by Clinton campaign manager Robby Mook that said, “Campaigns should be hard fought and elections hard won, but what is fundamental about the American electoral system is that it is free, fair and open to the people.” Mook continued, “Participation in the system — and particularly voting — should be encouraged, not dismissed or undermined because a candidate is afraid he’s going to lose.”

Where’s Hillary?: While women across the country outrage and repulsed by Donald Trump’s comments about women, Amy Chozick writes in The NY Times that Hillary Clinton has been, for the most part, pretty quiet on the subject. Given the indiscretions and affairs of her own husband, former President Bill Clinton, candidate Clinton is in no position to criticize. Chozick writes, “The virtual silence from Mrs. Clinton speaks volumes about the complicated place she has occupied as a 1960s Wellesley feminist who stayed as a devoted wife to her husband through infidelities and humiliation.”

The subject is bound to come up in next Wednesday’s debate, but Clinton has no public events scheduled until then. She has a squad of people speaking for her until then, including the musician Moby and cooking show host Padma Lakshmi.

The Numbers: The RealClear Politics average of polls has Hillary Clinton leading by 6.7 points. NBC has her up by 10 and The Economist by 5.

Nation: Dennis Byrd, a former New York Jets defensive lineman who overcame a paralyzing injury, was killed in a wreck outside Tulsa, Okla., when a car veered out of the oncoming lane and hit him head on. Byrd played only four years, but retired his number because he learned to walk again. He was 50.

Hunting Season: An American black bear named Pedals who became beloved in Rockaway, NJ because he walked around suburban neighborhoods on his hind legs has been killed by a hunter, animal rights activists say. New Jersey declared a five-day bow and arrow hunting season for bears this past week, and Pedals is believed to be one of 487 killed. Pedals was beloved because he looked like a real life cartoon character.

Late Breaking: Donald Trump panned last night’s Saturday Night Live tweeting, “Watched Saturday Night Live hit job on me. Time to retire the boring and unfunny show. Alec Baldwin portrayal stinks. Media rigging election!”

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