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Although her critics try to call her lazy when she doesn't do enough and a workaholic when she does a lot, one has to admire her "stamina," which has been challenged by Trump in his characteristic schoolyard bully fashion.

Yet one has to wonder how much her illness had to do with her other big stumble of the weekend. On Friday she said at a fundraiser that "half" of Trump's supporters belonged in a "basket of deplorables" that were "racist, sexist, homophobic, xenophobic, Islamophobic -- you name it."

She was talking about the white nationalist and alt-right faction of Trump's supporters to which Trump has given little objection and a bonanza of publicity. Although she later retracted one crucial word, "half," from her statement, she did point out that many Trump supporters "feel the government has let them down," adding, "Those are people we have to understand and empathize with as well."

Nice try. Clinton obviously was trying to separate the right's racist-sexist factions from the persuadable mainstream. Trump countered by treating Clinton's critique as "hatred in her heart for ... working-class Americans."

It's hard to say that Clinton's illness led to her less-than-artful statement, which reopened charges that she's too aloof about ordinary Americans. But it would be even harder to argue that it helped her.

Clinton did catch a break on the health question thanks to the shortcomings of her opponent. Trump has been almost as reluctant to release his medical records as he has been about releasing his tax returns. Compared to him on both issues, Clinton has been a model of candor and accountability.

Physical health is a legitimate issue as we voters judge candidates. But for reliable information we turn to the candidates and their doctors, not to rumor mills.

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(E-mail Clarence Page at cpage@tribune.com.)

(c) 2016 CLARENCE PAGE DISTRIBUTED BY TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES, INC.