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

[‼realJohnEwards‼]

No Clinton foundation or email questions, but we got taxes, birther questions and the woman card.

This is why I can never support Hillary.

Um, you can't support Hillary because Trump made some misogynistic statements, which Clinton had full right to attack him on? Mmkay

[pho]

Trump was incoherent for the entire 90 minutes, very good contrast for Hillary. The stamima comeback was pure gold.

RIP Trump 2016

[J. J.]

"She doesn't have the stamina."

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

I couldn't tell who it was. 

[muon2]

Trump was incoherent for the entire 90 minutes, very good contrast for Hillary. The stamima comeback was pure gold.

RIP Trump 2016

I don't think he was incoherent the first half hour. He was making the points on trade in a way I think his campaign wanted. After that however, he lost focus and missed his points over the last 2/3 of the debate. Trump spent too much time reacting to the latest statement and not keeping up a consistent narrative.

[Wells]

"She doesn't have the stamina."

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

I couldn't tell who it was. 

It was Trump who was sniffling. . . that's the joke.

[libertpaulian]

It's pretty much Eric Cartman vs. Shelly Marsh on November 8, folks.

[riceowl]

No Clinton foundation or email questions, but we got taxes, birther questions and the woman card.

This is why I can never support Hillary.

Uh, they talked about the emails at length, and there was no mention of the Trump foundation. How is this unbalanced?

[ProudModerate2]

Did anyone else see Trump's bloodshot eyes?

He was mad.
He lost his cool.
LOL.

[Devout Centrist]

It's pretty much Eric Cartman vs. Shelly Marsh on November 8, folks.

Cartman is actually funny tho

[Fargobison]

I saw this in the primary, once Trump has to start defending himself and his business he starts to lose composure and gets all flustered.

He was on the attack early and looked better than usual but then the wheels fell off bigly once Clinton put him on defense.

[Yank2133]

The stamina response by HRC was the kill shot.

[PeteB]

Trump in the Spin Room:

"I was happy I held back about Bill Clinton's indiscretions"....and then he lays them out

[Dr. Arch]

The stamina response by HRC was the kill shot.

Agreed

[publicunofficial]

Trump has no idea how NOT to take the bait when it's dangled in front on him.

[pho]

Trump was incoherent for the entire 90 minutes, very good contrast for Hillary. The stamima comeback was pure gold.

RIP Trump 2016

I don't think he was incoherent the first half hour. He was making the points on trade in a way I think his campaign wanted. After that however, he lost focus and missed his points over the last 2/3 of the debate. Trump spent too much time reacting to the latest statement and not keeping up a consistent narrative.

I didn't hear it. 'You look at...Mexico, you look at... China. It's a total diaster, and Secreatary Clinton...by the way,  we are getting ripped off so bad. Our companies are going to Mexico. Secretary Clinton...she can't fix the problem'. The best of what he said, but still disjointed, mind numbing nonsense

[muon2]

Trump was incoherent for the entire 90 minutes, very good contrast for Hillary. The stamima comeback was pure gold.

RIP Trump 2016

I don't think he was incoherent the first half hour. He was making the points on trade in a way I think his campaign wanted. After that however, he lost focus and missed his points over the last 2/3 of the debate. Trump spent too much time reacting to the latest statement and not keeping up a consistent narrative.

I didn't hear it. 'You look at...Mexico, you look at... China. It's a total diaster, and Secreatary Clinton...by the way,  we are getting ripped off so bad. Our companies are going to Mexico. Secretary Clinton...she can't fix the problem'. The best of what he said, but still disjointed, mind numbing nonsense

No question that it was disjointed, but disjointed is not incoherent. It's an effective way of driving soundbites on TV. During that stretch Clinton was way to professorial with a litany of policy prescriptions. I'm a professor so I love that stuff, but I also know it plays poorly on TV.

Incoherent was what happened after the first half hour. Clinton successfully got him into a reactive mode and was in much better shape.

[Absentee Voting Ghost of Ruin]

I saw this in the primary, once Trump has to start defending himself and his business he starts to lose composure and gets all flustered.

He was on the attack early and looked better than usual but then the wheels fell off bigly once Clinton put him on defense.

Good summation.

[Doimper]

18 of the 20 undecided Florida voters in CNN's focus group say Clinton won the debate.

[Statilius the Epicurean]

When Clinton started badly? I was seriously worried early on when she appeared nervous and wasn't looking into the camera, but Hillary grew into the debate as it went on.

[Figueira]

A little bit.

[muon2]

18 of the 20 undecided Florida voters in CNN's focus group say Clinton won the debate.

But it was interesting that some were saying that neither gave them what they wanted to hear. It makes me think that Hillary won, but may not have motivated voters to come out for her when she had this opportunity during a good performance.

[ag]

Students in class today asked to be let out early, so that they could watch the debate (it was broadcast in the main auditorium and in a few classrooms). Since it was political economy, I let them go. But I myself could not force myself to watch.

Happy to hear HRC did well.

[Devout Centrist]

Students in class today asked to be let out early, so that they could watch the debate (it was broadcast in the main auditorium and in a few classrooms). Since it was political economy, I let them go. But I myself could not force myself to watch.

Happy to hear HRC did well.

I wish I had you as a professor/teacher/whatever title you prefer.

[IceSpear]

Under. Trump is going to come off as polished. Mark my words, he's going to win and take a lead in almost every post debate poll. I'm resigned to our fate at this point.

lol.

As much as Trump is "underestimated" by many, the same thing applies for Hillary. Remember when her campaign was over after Iowa in 2008? Remember when she'd get crushed by Warren or Biden or Sanders?

[ag]

Students in class today asked to be let out early, so that they could watch the debate (it was broadcast in the main auditorium and in a few classrooms). Since it was political economy, I let them go. But I myself could not force myself to watch.

Happy to hear HRC did well.

I wish I had you as a professor/teacher/whatever title you prefer.

Thank you (all flustered).