I believe the is about managing expectations. By floating the story that she’s in such bad shape she’ll be a no show, just “powering through” makes her look good by comparison.
Yep. After the 9-11 collapse, they had to figure out how to use it to their advantage. Milking it for sympathy and "powering through" the debate despite being under the weather is the scam they've chosen.
If she's not on the top of her game on Monday, her shills and the DBM (which are really one in the same) will make excuses for her (give her a break, she's been desperately ill and look how courageous she is in coming to the debate) and denigrate anyone who dares criticize her performance.