On to Round Two

The first Clinton-Trump debate was roughly a draw — which is bad news for her, because she needs to turn this race around, and she failed. Clinton was on the attack most of the night, with the marked help of moderator Lester Holt. But she didn’t score any body blows — nor remotely offer a rationale for her candidacy beyond he’s just too dangerous, a case she failed to make.

Trump wasted time on pointless defense on basically irrelevant issues — the birther stuff, his taxes and so on. But he didn’t come off as the maniac she needs him to be. New to this game, yes; too volatile, no.

And, while he failed to hit on some obvi- ous openings (no mention of her e-mail follies when cybersecurity came up), he hit hard on the fact that she’s been around forever without actually delivering on anything she’s promising now.

Indeed, Trump won the opening round — because he actually had credible ideas on creating jobs — better deals on trade, lower taxes on business, less deadening regulation. By contrast, she offered nothing beyond social-justice thoughts on “justice”: equal pay, sick leave, tax the rich to pay for it all. Good stuff for people who are employed; nothing for those who aren’t.

Trump remains the candidate of change; Clinton, the tribune of the status quo.