Western Daily Press

Trump fights dirty... but he’s vulnerable to voters’ right cross TRUMP The President turns first debate into an ugly brawl, but a vote for BIDEN Biden can end his reign at the top

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Round one:

acting as primary school teacher, riot cop and child psychologi­st combined, as he attempted to keep Trump in check.

No matter how he implored the President to be respectful or rebuked him, he could not control the school bully before him.

Wallace’s experience was one Trump’s staff live with daily. When we look back at the revolving door of his team, it’s clear many can’t deal with his petulance for long, as he runs ruthlessly roughshod over everyone and everything.

On Tuesday night, Americans saw it for themselves.

He disregarde­d the notion that two White House competitor­s offering competing visions for the country should do so with decency and dignity.

Anyone who saw Trump’s TV debates with Hillary

XClinton in 2016, had an idea of what to expect, but no one could have predicted just how bad he has become in the past four years.

It was certain he would fight dirty and do anything he could do to dodge questions about his shambolic mishandlin­g of the coronaviru­s, his attacks on the military or the recent revelation­s about his massive tax avoidance.

But his grotesque denunciati­ons of Biden’s family showed just how far Trump is prepared to go.

It was clear that the former Apprentice star senses the American public will tell him he is fired on election day. It is why he chose not to debate but to bully.

It was a disgusting and demeaning performanc­e that robbed America of what should have been the laying ou out of a blueprint for the ne next four years.

One that should have been filled with hope and aspiration­s to deal with a p pandemic that has led to cha challenges not seen since the Great Depression and the Second World War.

There is no doubt Trump’s appearance will inspire members of his fanbase. The far-right organisati­on he told to “stand back and stand by” will take his words as a rallying war cry.

But, given that he is trailing in polls, losing swing states that helped him win in 2016, it seems that his low blows and gut punches are not landing like they used to.

After absorbing round after round of punishment, those Americans who are not in Trump’s corner must see last night’s flailing assault for what it was, Trump’s desperate bid to land a devastatin­g haymaker on American democracy.

Come November 3, they have the chance to deliver the knockout blow.

All of us should pray that they take it.

 ??  ?? The debate dissolved into a slanging match
at times
The debate dissolved into a slanging match at times
 ??  ?? Debate viewers learned little in the way of policy
Debate viewers learned little in the way of policy
 ??  ??

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