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| English: Trump International Hotel and Tower and the Chicago River (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
Both candidates squared off on several topics, rehashing all the talking points they've been honing on the campaign trail. Neither of them engaged in any personal name-calling, unless you count the exchange over a former beauty pageant contestant and Rosie O'Donnell.
While Clinton was calm, cool and on-message for most of the ninety-plus minutes, Trump seemed to undergo a personal transformation not unlike a certain literary classic mentioned at the top of this post. At first, Trump made his points about the economy and trade deals as if he were auditioning for Secretary of Commerce in a GOP administration instead of President of the United States--which his ego would never permit.
But then moderator Lester Holt of NBC News started asking Trump about why he wouldn't release his tax returns. He started getting flustered and made excuses for how he's being audited by the IRS. On the topic of race and the police, Trump kept repeating the phrase "law and order" as if it were a mantra. He kept interrupting Clinton as if he were the obnoxious student who kept raising his hand in class to get his teacher's attention.
Trump seemed to fly off the handle when asked about finally admitting that President Barack Obama really was born in this country. He also kept insisting that he was against the war in Iraq (just ask Howard Stern and Sean Hannity) when evidence proves otherwise.
On Clinton's part, she wasn't challenged much. Holt asked maybe one question about her e-mails as Secretary of State, and nothing about the other things Republicans seem to accuse her of. Even Trump thought better of making nasty comments about Clinton and her family's past.
If you were watching the ABC coverage of the debate (other networks might have done this too), Trump and Clinton were shown on a split screen for the entire time. Trump was seen taking several sips of water and sniffling while Clinton didn't touch a drop. Then he had the nerve to go after her on stamina.
Clinton won this debate, but not by much. If there were any questions on the importance of keeping it together as a job requirement to being President, she answered them. Trump did not.
But that doesn't mean the race is over, not by a long shot with more than a month to go. Before the debate, Clinton had a slight lead nationally over Trump, but they're dead even in the so-called battleground states. After the debate, she'll likely get a slight bump in the polls until the two meet again October 9 in St. Louis.
Maybe then we'll see which Donald Trump shows up. If he shows up.
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