'He doesn't need sideshows now': Red flags raised that Trump is crippling his campaign

With Donald Trump's third run for the presidency faltering as election day nears, political observers looking at his need to bring independent voters into his camp claim he is doing himself no favors this week.

Still reeling from a disastrous debate performance on Tuesday when he faced off for the first time with Vice President Kamala Harris, Trump has subsequently been closely linked to far-right gadfly Laura Loomer who has been traveling with him and raising some eyebrows about their relationship.

In interviews with Newsweek, two political scientists made the case that Trump is making a huge mistake by not disavowing her before it is too late.

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According to Mark Shanahan, who teaches American politics at the University of Surrey, "The fact that the media is awash with speculation on the nature of Trump's relationship with Loomer should be a worry to him, but, as so often, doesn't seem to have registered with 45 as something that might impact his campaign."

Shanahan added, "Loomer is regarded as a dangerous conspiracist, and to be allied with her in any way will damage Trump's standing with the undecided voters he needs on his side if he is to prevail in November. He doesn't need sideshows now, and being seen at key events with Loomer players squarely into Harris' assertion that Trump is an 'unserious man.'"

Thomas Gift, of the Center on U.S. Politics at University College London concurred by adding, "Trump's association with Laura Loomer isn't doing him any favors. When even Marjorie Taylor Greene thinks you're too extreme, you know you've got problems. Trump has been linked to some less-than-upstanding characters in the past, including white supremacists and conspiracy theorists. But even by his standards, his connections to Loomer are troubling."

"Still, the overwhelming majority of Americans have never heard the name 'Laura Loomer,' and those who have are mostly extremely online adults who already know who they're voting for.," he then conceded.

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