Mercury (Hobart)

GLOVES OFF IN GRATE DEBATE

- SARAHBLAKE

You graduated either the lowest or the next lowest in your class, don’t ever use the word ‘smart’ with me. The people understand, Joe. In 47 years, you’ve done nothing. They understand. Huntergott­hrown out of the military. Hewasthrow­nout, dishonoura­bly discharged. Wehave tremendous crowdsasyo­usee andJoedoes­the circles and has three people (in) some place. Just out of curiosity — the MayorofMos­cow’s wifegaveyo­urson $3.5 million. What did he do to deserve it?

LIKE two septuagena­rian prize fighters, the bitter rivals for the White House entered the ring and bludgeoned each other for a brutal 94 minutes, trading personal attacks and blows on policy in what will go down as the most bruising presidenti­al debate in history.

Despite the intense and chaotic exchanges, neither man vying for the country’s highest office—US President Donald Trump and Democrat challenger Joe Biden — managed a knock out blow.

In a night where debate moderator Chris Waller’s

attempts to referee the bout repeatedly went ignored, Mr Trump went personal to landd his strongest hits over the business dealings of Mr Biden’s son Hunter and by emphasisin­g the Biden family’s ties to China.

However, he also scored points with a calm defence of his plan to install conservati­ve judge Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court and hammering Mr Biden’s lack of transparen­cy over his own plans for the country’s highest court.

As Mr Trump jabbed a this opponent to name his potential Supreme Court picks, which he has so far refused to do, Mr Biden lost his composure and snapped: “Will you shut up man?”

To which Mr Trump said: “The people understand, Joe. In 47 years, you’ ve done nothing. They understand .”

However, Mr Biden exceeded the poor expectatio­ns set in part by his rival, whose repeated attacks labelling him “Sleepy Joe” and questionin­g of the older candidate’s mental acuity had set a low bar.

He landed serious body blows by successful­ly casting the US response to the coronaviru­s pandemic as among the world’s worst, accusing Mr Trump of profiteeri­ng off the pandemic and telling him to get“out of the golf bunker”

You’re the worst President America has ever had.

He has been totally irresponsi­ble in the wayinwhich­hehas handled the social distancing and people wearing masks. Basically encouragin­g them not to. He’s a fool on this.

It’s hard to get any word in with this clown. I’m not here to call out his lies. Everybody knows he’s a liar. Willyoushu­tupman? This is so unpresiden­tial. Maybeyouco­uld inject some bleach in your arm. Hedoesn’thavea plan. This man doesn’t knowwhathe’s talking about.

to focus on the issue. “You’re the worst President America has ever had,” Mr Biden snapped.

“He waited and waited, he still doesn’t have a plan. Two hundred thousand dead.

“We, in fact, have 5 per cent or 5 per cent of the world’s population, and 20 per cent of the deaths — 40,000 people a day are contractin­g COVID.

“When he was presented with that number, he said‘ it is what it is’.

“Well, it is what it is because you are who you are. That’s why it is.”

However, Mr Trump had his opponent staggering on law and order, with the former vice president forced to admit his in action on quelling the violence wracking several Democrat-runcities.

The President insisted that his government and military was ready to distribute a vaccine by November, prompting another savage exchange.

Mr Bid en responded :“This is the same man who told you by Easter this would be gone away ... Maybe you could inject some bleach in your arm .”

Mr Trump responded that this infamous comment had been“sarcastic”.

Pressed on whether or not

Americans could “trust” a vaccine pushed by Mr Trump, Mr Biden said: “Do you believe for a moment what he’s telling you in light of all the lies he’s told you about the whole issue relating to COVID?”

It sparked an insult from Mr Trump, who reminded his opponent how he had recently misnamed the college he attended. “You graduated either the lowest or the next lowest in your class, don’t ever use the word ‘smart’ with me ,” he said.

 ??  ?? US President DonaldD Trump T at the presidenti­al debate and ( top) leaving with wife Melania.
US President DonaldD Trump T at the presidenti­al debate and ( top) leaving with wife Melania.
 ??  ?? Democrat Joe Biden during one of the fiery exchanges in Cleveland and (below) leaving with wife Jill.
Democrat Joe Biden during one of the fiery exchanges in Cleveland and (below) leaving with wife Jill.

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