Donald Trump is better off baring his soles before he is brought to heel

While it is all very well that US presidential hopeful Donald Trump has retorted that he is not stupid — as accused by British Prime Minister David Cameron — he should consider another tactic too as he faces a gruelling marathon to the White House this year: dump his running mates.

His shoes, that is. The study by the University of Florida indicating that barefoot running may make the runner smarter during the process cannot be ignored, especially during a presidential run. It is pretty obvious that anyone stepping out with their precious little tootsies unprotected will pay more attention to the path they tread than those who are securely shod. That would explain the researchers’ contention that running barefoot leads to a more concentrated use of “working memory” — the cognitive skill with which we recall and process information all through our lives — because the sensory receptors of the sole are also brought into play due to its contact with the ground.

Politicians usually gain from keeping an ear to the ground, so pressing their (bare) feet into action too as they make that crucial dash for the finish line should prove invaluable. Both the US presidential candidates, not to mention leaders everywhere, should remember that the most astute Indian politician of our times preferred to go barefoot most of the time.