Hofstra University POTUS debate at 9pm ET **live commentary thread**

[Illiniwek]

"Not like you think in your... president things."

It's like watching a high schooler.

I know it won't matter, but I can't wait to see the analysis about how he spoke like a 4th grader at this debate.

[#TheShadowyAbyss]

IRAN HAS CONTROL OVER NORTH KOREA.

[dspNY]

On Clinton's worst vulnerability, the emails, Trump barely landed a hit on her. She got away with the apology and people will drop the issue

[Gass3268]

After tonight, Trump will keep his base and won't expand it.  Hillary will pick up a few points.

The deplorables would always be unreachable.

[Figueira]

Clinton climbed 5% on Betfair. She won it.

President Romney is proud of Hillary's performance tonight!

(Her odds have moved less than Romney's did after 2012 first debate.)

Romney was well behind in the polls before the debate, though.

[Roronoa D. Law]

This debate is cringeworthy. Constant rants and incoherent answers. Trump even confused Santorum https://twitter.com/RickSantorum/status/780590538294779904

[musicblind]

I was so convinced the media would claim Trump won this debate because the bar was so low...

I don't know how he still managed to trip over that bar.

There is no way the media can spin this.  Trump is crashing in front of 100 million people.

This won't cost him his base, but Clinton could seriously gain a point or two from this.

[Higgs]

Trump is bombing hard!

Oh give me a break, neither candidate is bombing hard. Of course the echo chamber here will vote in droves that Hillary DESTROYED Trump. Trump supporters will believe he won and Hillary supporters will believe she won.

[Joe Republic]

I just got here.  My first observation: both candidates are representing the Atlas color scheme instead of the mainstream (wrong) way, so FFs.

[Gass3268]

I was so convinced the media would claim Trump won this debate because the bar was so low...

I don't know how he still managed to trip over that bar.

There is no way the media can spin this.  Trump is crashing in front of 100 million people.

This won't cost him his base, but Clinton could seriously gain a point or two from this.

Hopefully it fires up the base plus draw moderates and reluctant millennials.

[Beefalow and the Consumer]

"I want to assure our allies around the world that we will honor our commitments."

Coup de freaking grace.

[Devout Centrist]

Lester is a mess.

[riceowl]

I just got here.  My first observation: both candidates are representing the Atlas color scheme instead of the mainstream (wrong) way, so FFs.

^like

[#TheShadowyAbyss]

STAHMAHNAH!

[Joe Biden is your president. Deal with it.]

Seriously? and Santander are awfully quiet tonight...

They are crying sitting in their bathtubs.

[Wells]

"She doesn't have the stamina."

I guess that's why she's been sniffling all night.

[AGA]

How will this debate affect the polls, if at all?

[PeteB]

Trump is bombing. Absent a last minute zinger, this will be a total Clinton triumph.

But there is a caveat! Clinton appears no more human after this debate than she was before it.

[SirMuxALot]

So Lester Holt actaully asked ZERO questions about deleted emails and Clinton Foundation?  Hmm, okay.

[MasterJedi]

"We need to get paid by countries to defend them" So basically pay up for Russia can have you since Putin asked?

[AGA]

Audience broke the rules regarding applause for the fourth time tonight.

[Senator-elect Spark]

Hillary's health. Lester Holt won this debate. Playing the woman card

[#TheShadowyAbyss]

Audience breaks the rules for the 5TH TIME

[Classic Conservative]

They both had back to back zingers

[No War, but the War on Christmas]

OKAY. Hillary has wrapped this up nicely! Not gonna lie, I was scared at first. But she's brought it home! C'mon Madame President, you can do this!