US election timeline: A look back at the most memorable moments

As US election day looms, here are some of the most unforgettable moments of the race to the White House.

By ELIYAHU KAMISHER
Updated: NOVEMBER 7, 2016 18:22
Trump and Clinton (photo credit: REUTERS)
Trump and Clinton
(photo credit: REUTERS)
On June 16, 2015 Donald J. Trump descended the escalator of his aptly named Trump Tower where he announced his presidential bid and lambasted Mexican immigrants as “rapists.” Trump’s candidacy was one in a packed field of 16 GOP contenders and many in the media treated his bid as a circus act. Nearly one year and five months later, Trump’s brash New York billionaire personality combined with a strong anti-immigration and anti-establishment message has propelled him to the cusp of the world’s most powerful job.
Hillary Clinton, coming from decades of experience in the Washington Beltway - as First Lady, Senator from New York, and Secretary of State - could not be farther from Trump on style and substance. Clinton believes in immigration reform and is a symbol of women’s empowerment, while hailing from an old guard of political correctness that Trump’s brand of aggressive machismo has upended.
As US citizens and people around the world await the results of the impeding election, here are some unforgettable moments in a constantly unpredictable election.
   
March 2, 2015 - Reports that Hillary Clinton used a private email server to handle her communications as Secretary of State; a revelation that would haunt her throughout the election campaign.
April 12, 2015 - Hillary Clinton announces her bid for president. Bernie Sanders, Clinton’s main competitor for the Democratic nomination, announces his bid on April 29.
June 16, 2015 - Donald Trump announces his presidential bid at the Trump Tower, “I'm really rich," he told supporters. DNC lampoons his bid saying, “We look forward to hearing more about his ideas for the nation.”
August 7, 2016 - Trump says Megyn Kelly had “blood coming out of her wherever,” after the Fox News host lobbed a tough question at the candidate at the first Republican debate.
Speeches of Michelle Obama and Melania Trump
October 13, 2015 - At the first Democratic debate Bernie Sanders declines to attack Hillary Clinton over her emails. “The American people are sick and tired of hearing about [Clinton's] damn emails!” Sanders said.
October 22, 2015 - Clinton testifies for nearly 11 hours before the US House of Representatives' select committee on Benghazi amid attacks from Republicans that Clinton’s mishandling led to the death of four Americans in Libya in 2012.
December 7, 2015 - Donald Trump shocks many by calling for a “Muslim Ban,” after the 2015 San Bernardino attack. “Donald J. Trump is calling for a total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States,” he said.
February 20, 2016 - Trump defeats the Republican establishment candidate with the end of Jeb Bush’s presidential campaign after Bush loses South Carolina.
March 3, 2016 - Trump appears to defend the size of his penis at the Republican debate. “He referred to my hands - 'if they're small, something else must be small.' I guarantee you there's no problem. I guarantee,” Trump said.
July 15, 2016 - Donald Trump announces Indiana Governor Mike Pence as his running mate.
July 18, 2016 - Melania Trump’s speech at the GOP convention plagiarizes Michelle Obama’s 2008 speech at the Democratic National Convention.
July 21, 2016 - Donald Trump accepts the Republican Presidential nomination. Senator Ted Cruz does not endorse Trump at the GOP convention. He tells Americans to “vote your conscience.”
July 22, 2016 - Wikileaks releases a trove of emails from the Democratic National Campaign showing hostility toward Bernie Sanders' campaign among DNC officials. The revelation leads to the resignation of DNC chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz
July 22, 2016 - Clinton announces Tim Kaine as her running mate.
July 26, 2016 - Democrats make Hillary Clinton the first woman presidential nominee from a major political party. “You have to stand up to bullies,” Clinton said in her acceptance speech. Bernie Sanders concedes although many of his supporters are reluctant to support Clinton.
October 7, 2016 - The Washington Post publishes a video from 2005 of Trump bragging about sexually assaulting women. Trump took a substantial hit in public opinion polls and called the conversation “locker room talk.”
October 7, 2016 - Emails leaked by Wikileaks continue to provide unwanted headlines for Clinton. In transcripts of Clinton’s paid speeches, the candidate said she hopes for, “open trade and open borders,” and holds “both public and a private position,” on political issues. 
October 9, 2016 - Donald says he will jail Hillary Clinton if president at the second presidential debate.
October 28, 2016 - Eleven days before the presidential election, F.B.I Director James Comey sent a letter to congressional leaders saying FBI agents had discovered Hillary Clinton emails “that appear pertinent” and the Clinton email investigation was reopened.
November 6, 2016 - F.B.I Director James Comey told Congress that he found no new evidence in the emails discovered in late October to warrant charges against Clinton.
November 8, 2016 - Election day looms with Hillary Clinton holding a 1 to 4 percent lead over Trump.