Hillary Clinton’s camp on Sunday accused Russia of helping Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump as the Democratic Party faced chaos on its convention day.
Democrats are opening their national convention in Philadelphia eager to show off a forward-looking party united behind Clinton. 
But they face lingering bitterness among supporters of defeated rival Bernie Sanders and a fresh political mess of the party’s own making after Wikileaks published hacked emails showing the Democratic National Committee (DNC) favored Clinton over Sanders.
Clinton’s campaign manager Robby Mook told CNN that hacking and leaking of the emails were the handiwork of “Russian state actors.”
Mook said the Russians apparently did that to help Trump, who has said that in his administration, the US might not come to the defense of NATO allies who don’t contribute enough to the alliance. 
Republicans and Democrats have widely panned that position as dangerous and evidence of Trump’s lack of fitness for high office. NATO members promise that an attack against any of them is considered an assault against all.
The Wikileaks disclosures has forced the resignation of DNC chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz. The Florida congresswoman heeded Sanders’ longstanding call to leave as party chief. 
Wasserman Schultz’s abrupt departure was undoubtedly an effort to keep the Democrats’ gathering from devolving into the tumult that marred last week’s Republican National Convention.
Trump brushed off Clinton camp’s claims that Russia is trying to help his campaign by leaking thousands of e-mails from the Democratic National Committee.
Trump dismissed in a Tweet Monday that reports linking him to Russia President Vladimir Putin is “the new joke in town.”
In another Tweet, Trump said “bad judgment was on display” by DNC officials who criticized Clinton’s primary rival Bernie Sanders.

Veteran general endorses Clinton
In a bit of good news for the Democrats, retired Gen. John Allen on Monday endorsed Clinton’s bid for president, calling it “a very personal decision.”
Allen, who most recently served as America’s special envoy to the coalition fighting the Daesh group, said Monday that he generally keeps out of politics but “given the complexities of issues facing our country today and its longtime allies, I felt compelled to speak up and be heard.”
He added: “I have no doubt that she is the leader we need at this time to keep our country safe.”
Allen is the former deputy commander of US Central Command and previously oversaw NATO troops in Afghanistan.
In Monday’s Democratic Party convention, Elizabeth Warren, a favorite of liberals, will deliver the keynote address.
The Massachusetts senator speaks in an opening lineup that also includes first lady Michelle Obama, New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker.
Sanders, a senator from Vermont, will notably deliver the night’s closing address. Sanders generated enormous enthusiasm among young people and liberals during the Democratic primary, voters Clinton needs to show up for her in November.

Source: Arab News