Worse for Clinton is the fact that Trump’s criticisms harmonize with Sanders’. They go after her on trade, on the speaking fees, on cronyism. They point out she is an insider, they outsiders. They needle her foreign policy decisions, and remind the public that they opposed the war in Iraq (or so Trump says). Trump’s freedom from dogmatism and manners allows him to attack Clinton from any angle, any viewpoint no matter how base.

Her response? Worrisome. She plays to Trump’s strengths, reminds us of her vulnerabilities. She called Trump “a loose cannon,” which is exactly why his supporters love him. They want unpredictability, chaos, and destruction in the Beltway. It’s the reason for his campaign.

“Loose cannon” is only an insult to authority figures, to high school principals, coaches of amateur soccer leagues. Americans like loose cannons. Trump’s problem isn’t that he’s a loose cannon. It’s that he’s a horrible person.

Embarrassed, she apologized to coal workers for saying she wanted to put them out of work, a reversal that pleased no one, neither miners nor billionaire environmentalists, while reinforcing the perception that she’s a two-faced opportunist who will say or do anything to get elected.