Things Trump missed
Donald Trump failed to mention Hillary Clinton’s “basket of deplorables” comment. Trump did not attack Clinton over the 2012 Benghazi attack. Trump claims Clinton used her authority for gain, but did not mention the Clinton Foundation. Washington Post followed and Clinton will need better answers in the later debates. She squirmed over her stances on TPP.
But even there, a viewer’s response to Trump’s hulking barks at Clinton on trade might be largely different according to gender. Women voters may have been less impressed with his tone and manner than men — numerous comments on social media suggested so.
For much of the debate, Clinton showed she was prepared, knowledgeable and relaxed enough to come across as likeable and presidential, helping Trump stumble into silliness — “I have a great temperament” — while making callouts to the Democratic coalition of liberals, minorities and young voters. She dealt with her email saga simply and clearly.
She lobbed a news grenade into Trump’s lap in the form of his alleged treatment of former Miss Universe Alicia Machado.
Clinton skated close to potential danger in her obvious derision for Trump and what some would see as touches of smugness. Remember Al Gore was reckoned arrogant for being dismissive of George W. Bush in 2000.
However, Clinton was shielded from much negative impact in that regard by comparison with Trump’s own regular interruptions and reactions.
Nothing Trump did or said is likely to shake his really hardcore supporters. But it is difficult to see how he was able to expand his base, which is his key problem. Trump is likely to at least be better prepared for the next debate, but Clinton must feel confident she has his measure.
Currently Clinton’s national average poll lead according to RealClearPolitics.com is +2.4.
She has inched ahead in Florida but Pennsylvania and Colorado — two key states in her firewall — have suddenly become vulnerable.
Should the debate result in movement in the polls towards Clinton, she will concentrate on avoiding any damage in the subsequent encounters. That’s a front-runner’s strategy. — Nicola Lamb is the Foreign Editor of the New Zealand Herald.