The
conventional wisdom going into the first debate was that Donald Trump
would have to tone it down and appear more presidential. Trump
definitely took a more staid and steadied approach, but it didn't work.
His bravado and charm were largely absent from the stage. Trump the
showman can dance around policy pitfalls and distract from some of his
less than successful business dealings. Sedate Donald had far fewer
tools at his disposal, and looked like he couldn't wait for the
90-minute snooze-fest to end.
Trump: I'm 'smart' for paying no taxes 00:51
Hillary
Clinton didn't give a memorable performance, but she didn't have to.
Most Americans expect Madame Secretary to drone on, joylessly, about
policy, and wave her curriculum vitae like a club against her enemies.
She met expectations, which was enough, and during some of the actual
policy exchanges clearly had the upper hand on knowledge and background.
Trump
had huge areas of vulnerability to exploit in his opponent, and he
barely touched her on them -- from Benghazi to her emails to the
allegations of Clinton Foundation corruption. He will need a much
stronger showing in his next debate or this thing will be over long
before November.
Nayyera Haq: Trump looked more like Grumpy Cat than a leader
Nayyera Haq
Trump's
glass jaw was exposed throughout Clinton's onslaught of policy laden
counter-punches. Trump came into this debate attempting to appeal to a
broader audience, so he needed to leave behind the showmanship and
bravado that worked for him in the primary and instead carry himself
with presidential composure. But his calm voice lasted only 20 minutes
and his listening face made him look more like Grumpy Cat than a leader,
showing that rehearsed moves just don't work for him.
Trump
had Clinton momentarily against the ropes early on about NAFTA and TPP,
but then he allowed his emotion to take over and did not regain his own
footing for the remainder of the debate. His heavy handed depictions of
America's problems didn't hold up against Hillary's detailed, solution
oriented answers. His snorting asides were countered with some
surprising zingers from Hillary -- "Donald criticized me for preparing
for this debate. You know what else I prepared for? To be President."
Trump
crumbled under Hillary's attacks on his business record, lack of
transparency on taxes, and understanding of African-American
communities. By the time it came around to national security, the
contrast in experience was even more clear, with Clinton nimbly moving
around the globe and Trump invoking his 10-year-old son--who, he told
us, is good at computers -- in a discussion of cyber security. Trump's
abrupt defensiveness, especially on the issue of his temperament,
allowed Clinton to come across as the champion of those who have been
taken taken advantage of by big business and systemic racism. Calling
this fight for Hillary.
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