The first presidential debate of 2016 just finished. While the partisans will offer opinions about why their candidate won, if we put aside the spin, the result was pretty clear: Ultimately, Trump won. he did not win on debating points if we rate issue by issue. We got to see Hillary Clinton speak about specific policy points on many topics, but when it came down to it, she decided to lie. Hillary actually denied calling the Trans Pacific Partnership the "gold standard" of all trade deals. It just brought into question everything else that she said. On top of that lie (and many others), Clinton came across as smug. She seemed to be going for "jovial" but we got forced smiles and some condescension. We saw Donald Trump come on strong on many issues, but with less specifics than Hillary. Trump, however, got to his big themes. He kept pointing out that despite all her nice talking points, Hillary had held power and not achieved anything much. He said that she had experience, but not good experience. He hung the Iran nuclear deal around her neck and she accepted it. Since the public views that deal as something quite negative, that will not help her. On the other hand, Trump had to deal with his tax returns and the birther issue which were raised by Holt, but the moderator stayed away from Clinton's email scandals, her near indictment, and the Clinton Foundation slush fund and all of its problems. On these questions, Hillary had (like on most issues) what seemed like preplanned answers. Through it all, however, Trump kept painting Hillary Clinton as the insider, the continuation of the Obama policies, the politician.
Hillary Clinton's goal, however, had to be to get people to view Trump as not up to being president. There were questions that Trump did not answer as well as some would like. A fair observer, however, would not think that Trump was un-presidential. He handled a stressful situation and some tough questions with a steady hand. We never saw anything, despite major goading by Hillary, that seemed like a flash of temper or loss of control. He kept his cool. That, more than anything that was said, was the biggest victory for Trump.
We will soon see who the polls anoint as the winner of the confrontation.
Hillary Clinton's goal, however, had to be to get people to view Trump as not up to being president. There were questions that Trump did not answer as well as some would like. A fair observer, however, would not think that Trump was un-presidential. He handled a stressful situation and some tough questions with a steady hand. We never saw anything, despite major goading by Hillary, that seemed like a flash of temper or loss of control. He kept his cool. That, more than anything that was said, was the biggest victory for Trump.
We will soon see who the polls anoint as the winner of the confrontation.
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