45 Americans who 'defined' US presidential elections 2016

Hillary Clinton’s close aide Huma Abedin, who was at the centre of the email controversy recently, and First Lady Michelle Obama are among 45 Americans who “defined” the 2016 US polls, in a list that also names parents of slain Pakistani-American soldier Humayun Khan.

“The race for the 45th president didn’t just involve Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump. Here (are) 45 everyday Americans who had their brief moment in the spotlight this election year,” Time magazine said in its list of ‘45 Americans who defined the election’.

About Abedin, the magazine said that one of Clinton’s most trusted advisers “typically remained behind the scenes, enjoying unrivaled power inside Clinton’s orbit”.

“The release of Clinton’s emails from her tenure as Secretary of State and sexting scandals involving her husband, former Rep Anthony Weiner, brought her unwanted attention,” it said.

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“Michelle Obama has become one of the most passionate anti-Trump surrogates deployed by the Clinton campaign. After delivering a rousing speech at the Democratic National Convention, Mrs. Obama has been sent to college campuses across the country to rally young people behind the Democratic nominee, giving another memorable speech about her reaction to Donald Trump’s Access Hollywood tape,” Time said.Also on the list are the parents of Humayun Khan who died in the line of duty in Iraq and was was posthumously awarded a Purple Heart and Bronze Star.

During the Democratic National Convention in July, Khan’s father gave an “emotional speech” criticizing Trump.“Trump responded by bashing the Khans. Sales of pocket constitutions spiked on Amazon and strangers laid flowers on his son’s gravesite. Khan later starred in a Clinton ad,” the magazine said.

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The list also includes Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren, Vice President Joe Biden and former Miss Universe Alicia Machado, who spoke out about Trump’s treatment of her after she gained weight. Anchor and nephew of former President George H W Bush, Billy Bush who was heard on an old video chatting with Trump about women in lewd ways is also figured in the list.

Machado became a US citizen so she could vote against Trump. She made headlines again when Clinton mentioned her during the first debate, prompting Trump the next morning to again criticize her past weight gain and claim (inaccurately) that she had a sex tape, Time said.

Trump’s campaign manager Kellyanne Conway who convinced the Republican presidential nominee to use the teleprompter more for scripted policy speeches is also in the list.

“She also appeared frequently as a top spokeswoman on television, an unusual move for a campaign manager, who is typically more focused on behind-the-scenes efforts,” it said.

Popular news anchor Megyn Kelly, who who has been critical of Trump’s policies and rhetoric, is also featured on the list.Abedin’s estranged husband Anthony Weiner also makes it to the list, with the magazine saying, “while the failed mayoral candidate kept his head down for most of the presidential election, his fondness for sending lewd photos shot him once again into the news”.

Abedin finally separated from Weiner, who resurfaced again in October when an FBI investigation into his photos revealed emails on his computer that might be of interest in the investigation into Clinton’s private email server.