The “October Surprise” is usually explained as “unexpected or surprising news that breaks before an election, that has the distinct capability to help determine the outcome of the race.”

It’s when the biggest skeletons come out of the closet. We certainly can believe bones are being rattled from all sides already.

One of the biggest fears for Democrats, and some fringe Republicans, is that strong indictments could be issued to former law enforcement officials, government employees, and perhaps, even politicians. Specifically, those who were involved in the illegal spying, manipulation and instigation of the Russian hoax that backfired on them should be concerned.

Joe Biden and Kamala Harris have closets full of skeletons that can be used against them. Harris’ husband, Douglas Emhoff, has close ties to Chinese Communist state run businesses. Biden’s son, Hunter is in virtual hiding due to his shady earnings and business deals in China, Ukraine and others. Will the Obama, Clinton, Sanders, Romney, Warren, Hollywood, Cohen and Soros backing be helpful?

Here is a summary of past “October Surprises” in modern day presidential elections.

1972: McGovern vs. Nixon

National Security advisor Henry Kissenger announces “We believe that peace is at hand” with Vietnamese War negotiations.

1980: Carter vs. Reagan

Famed investigative reporter Jack Anderson revealed Carter’s team was preparing a major military operation to rescue American hostages in Iran right before the election.

Speculation exists that Reagan’s team negotiated with Iran for their release. Within minutes of Reagan’s inauguration on January 20, 1981, the hostages were safely released.

1992: Bush vs. Clinton

Independent Counsel Lawrence Walsh timed an indictment of Ronald Reagan’s Secretary of Defense Caspar Weinberger with Iran-Contra affair charges before George Bush’s reelection. The media began an information campaign alleging Bush has a direct role roll in the arms deals.

2000: Gore vs. Bush

Days before the election, media began reporting George W. Bush had been arrested for drunk driving in 1976. Bush confirmed the report in a press conference moments after it was revealed.

2004: Kerry vs. Bush

To help the John Kerry campaign, just a week before the election, the New York Times erroneously reported

a huge cache of explosives missing from a warehouse in al Qa’qaa was Bush’s fault.

Saudi helped the Bush campaign by lowering oil prices to help keep the American economy strong.

2008: McCain vs. Obama

Coupled with October reports that unemployment numbers were at record highs, media reports came out indicating Obama’s half-aunt was living in Boston as an illegal immigrant despite being ordered to leave the United States in 2004.

2012: Romney vs. Obama

In late September, media reports surfaced with an audio tape secretly recording Mitt Romney making disparaging remarks about Americans who pay no federal income tax. 

2016: Clinton vs. Trump

October 7th was a double whammy with media releasing a 2005 recording of Trump using explicit language with locker room talk about women. He apologized, saying it doesn’t “reflect who I am.”

That same day, the Podesta Leaks began coming out from WikiLeaks including voice recordings of Clinton to a variety of banks, debate questions being leaked to her prior to the debate, a stance on trade-deals showing her lies during her campaign, and admitting it was to her political advantage to have both “public” and “private” beliefs.

On October 30th, reports came out that 650,000 emails on Anthony Weiner’s computer were being investigated. The FBI had been looking into Clinton’s illegal use of a private email server after Weiner’s had been seized earlier.

Weiner’s wife, Huma Abedin, was a top aide to Hillary Clinton.