Temperament, trust among biggest debate themes
pitfalls here for Trump in particular: Weak on policy, he’s vulnerable to slip-ups that could feed into the notready-to-govern line that Clinton is pushing. THOSE ‘DAMN EMAILS’
Clinton largely got a pass during the Democratic primary debates on her use of a private email system when she was secretary of state. Primary rival Bernie Sanders, in their first debate, did Clinton a favor when he declared that “people are sick and tired of hearing about your damn emails.” Don’t expect Trump to cut Clinton a similar break. Clinton has been struggling to find an effective explanation: Now would be a good time for her to nail it. PUSH-UPS ANYONE?
They can’t exactly drop to the floor for a one-armed pushups contest. But look for both candidates to more subtly project health and stability. After her much-publicized coughing fits and recent bout of pneumonia, Clinton will be out to show she’s got tthee ststrengthegt aandd stastaminaa tthee WWhitete House job demands. As for Trump, critics have speculated he has any number of psychiatric disorders. It would be a good time to show a level head and solid grounding. POINTERS AND PINCERS
He shrugs. She bobs her head. He waves his arms. She pinches her thumb and index finger. Every wink, nod and fidget on Monday will be analyzed for silent messages that can speak volumes. President George H.W. Bush caught grief for stealing a look at his watch during a 1992 debate. Al Gore’s audible sighs in a 2000 debate were seen as discourteous to George W. Bush. FACTIVISM
The candidates won’t be the only ones under the microscope. Moderator Lester Holt of NBC News will be under enormous pressure to maintain control and act as an objective referee. In the leadup to the debate, Trump maintained that it would be improper for Holt to try to factcheck the candidates’ statements in real time. Clinton spokesman Brian Fallon tweeted that if debate moderators don’t fact-check the candidates, “it is an unfair advantage to Trump, who is a congenital liar.” GENDER DYNAMICS
Gender politics will be afoot in the first general-election debate to feature a woman. Trump had trouble navigating this terrain in the primaries, when he tried to back away from a derogatory comment about rival Carly Fiorina’s looks by declaring in one debate that she had a “beautiful face.” Clinton will be ready. She said earlier this year: “I have a lot of experience dealing with men who sometimes get off the reservation in the way they behave and how they speak.” WHAT TO WEAR
CaCall itt frivolous,voous, but peoppeoplee willw check out what the candidates wear, especially Clinton. When comic Zach Galifianakis recently asked Clinton what she was going to wear, Clinton said she had no idea and scolded him for “this thing called the double standard.” POST-MORTEM
Even if you watch the whole debate, its impact may not be completely clear until the post-debate pontificating plays out. The analysis and selected clips that are highlighted after the debate can have a big influence on the millions of people who didn’t tune in — or who watched Monday Night Football instead. And why wait for the debate to end? Your Twitter feed will be filled with significant moments before you’ve even had time to digest them.