That the presidential race is so close at this point is a bit of a shock to many of us, given Trump’s almost single-minded efforts to drive so many different types of voters away.

His behavior and language recently have slipped from “weird” to downright bizarre.

Then there is the question of Trump’s mental fitness for the job. Most disturbing to me is how Trump recently shrugged off the idea that his conduct on Jan. 6, 2021, should cost him the backing of Republican voters. When called upon at a televised town hall by an ex-Republican voter to account for his dereliction that day by failing to call off the violent mob that stormed the Capitol, Trump called it “a day of love.”

“Nothing done wrong at all,” Trump said in a lengthy response to the ex-Republican voter from Florida.

“There were no guns down there; we didn’t have guns,” he added. “The others had guns, but we didn’t have guns.”

Just to be clear, Trump here used “we” to refer to those who stormed the Capitol, roughly 730 of whom have pleaded guilty to charges related to the event, and a further 130 of whom were convicted after taking their cases to trial, according to the Associated Press. More than 330 served time for their offenses, people whom Trump terms “hostages.”

“The others” who “had guns” were the Capitol Police, 174 of whom were injured fighting to protect the seat of our nation’s government.

Four Capitol Police officers committed suicide following the attack.

It’s no wonder that so many Republicans who held high positions in Trump’s administration, including former Vice President Mike Pence — whose life was threatened on Jan. 6 — are publicly withholding support from him this year.

However much we may want to dismiss this palaver as “Trump being Trump,” his followers hear and understand exactly what he’s saying. Much like the thousands who went to Washington after he tweeted: “Big protest in D.C. on January 6th. Be there, will be wild.”

“They didn’t come because of me,” Trump said Wednesday. “They came because of the election. They thought the election was a rigged election, and that’s why they came.”

Rigged? Gee, I wonder where they got that idea.

Now would be a good time to remember that Trump was indicted in August on federal charges related to his attempt to overturn the election. That comes after a host of campaign operatives and state GOP officials either pleaded guilty or were convicted of election felonies. And after Trump was charged in Georgia for allegedly leading a “criminal racketeering enterprise” to overturn the election.

I remember how the late Chicago Mayor Harold Washington used to speak angrily of rivals who “throw the rock then hide their hand.”

Such rock throwers can still be found. Some even brag about it. We might be unlucky enough to turn the fate of our democracy over to one in November.

Clarence Page at cpage@chicagotribune.com.