Both candidates for president offered their supporters something to cheer about during their first debate.
Hillary Clinton was calm, competent and well prepared. Donald Trump was strong during the first part of the debate, and then melted into primary debate Trump which lost all momentum he may have had with undecided voters. The fifteen minutes he defended his role in questioning President Obama’s birth certificate may have been the roughest of the night.
In the end, undecided voters are likely to be right where they started: undecided.
A CNN instant poll found 62% of debate watchers thought Clinton had won, only 27% felt Trump won. That’s a huge difference. The Clinton team left the debate hall with smiles, the Trump family left with frowns.
The question in coming days will be whether Clinton can open up a lead again in the battleground states she needs to win like Pennsylvania and Colorado.
As for fact-checking, Trump continues to say things that just are not true.
FACT CHECKING:
- “Thousands of jobs leaving Michigan, leaving Ohio, they’re all leaving. And we can’t allow it to happen anymore.” -Trump
FALSE
This is the same line Mitt Romney used in 2012, and Ohio Gov. John Kasich put an end to it real quick. Unemployment in both states has gone down significantly since 2009.
- “My father gave me a very small loan in 1975 and I built it into a company that’s worth many, many billions of dollars.” -Trump
FALSE
The conservative Wall Street Journal reported that Trump’s father lent him $14 million, a value of $31 million in today’s dollars. That’s hardly a “very small loan.”
- “Donald thinks that climate change is a hoax perpetrated by the Chinese. I think it’s real.” -Clinton.
“I did not say that. I did not say that.” -Trump
FALSE
In 2012, Trump tweeted: “The concept of global warming was created by and for the Chinese in order to make U.S. manufacturing non-competitive.”
- “I don’t mind releasing my tax returns. I’m under a routine audit.” -Trump
FALSE
Richard Nixon released his tax returns during an audit. Trump told supporters a year ago he would release them before the election.
- “No, you’re wrong. It went before a judge who was a very against police judge. It was taken away from her and our mayor, our new mayor, refused to go forward with the case. They would have won an appeal.”
FALSE
U.S. District Court Judge Shira A. Scheindlin ruled the police tactic unconstitutional.
- “ISIS wouldn’t have even been formed if they left some troops behind.” -Trump
FALSE
ISIS formed in 2004, five years before Barack Obama became president.
- “I opposed the invasion of Iraq.” -Trump
FALSE
Trump was interviewed by Howard Stern in 2002 where he supported the invasion.
- “Trump is someone who has said pregnancy is an inconvenience to employers.” -Clinton
“I never said that.” -Trump
FALSE
Trump did say those exact words in a 2004 interview.
- “It’s fair to say, if we’re going to talk about mayors, that under the current mayor, crime in New York City has continued to drop, including murders.” -Clinton
“You’re wrong.” -Trump
MIXED
New FBI data shows there were 352 murders in New York City in 2015, up from 333 the year before. But NYPD records show a large 5.3 percent decline in murders this year compared to last.
REVIEW
Trump was especially strong during the first thirty minutes of the debate on the issue of trade. Calm, steady and on message. His attacks on her for being just another politician were also particularly effective. Then, about 40 minutes in, he started unbelievable answers on not paying his contractors (“just business”), his leadership on the birther issue and comments about Clinton not “having the look” to be president. He became testy near the end, and for all the talk about Clinton’s health, it was Trump who was constantly drinking water.
As for Clinton, she did exactly what she was supposed to. She seemed well prepared, if not stiff at times in discussing how policy affects real people, and took Trump’s constant interruptions like a pro. Her attack on his decision not to release his tax returns was especially lethal.
Another note, Clinton never coughed during the debate, but Trump was constantly sniffing. He should have used a tissue, because the runny nose was similar to the sighs of Al Gore in 2000.
The question is the mood of the country and undecided voters. If they want the ultimate outsider, the reality TV host is it. If they want competence, Clinton is clearly the choice.
One thing is certain: The next presidential debate is likely to have high ratings too. We still have a long 42 days to go.