Kelly O'Connell AM Las Cruces: Hillary Holds Serve

Well, the Great Debate occurred. Donald did not get the big knockout supporters hoped for. Instead, Hillary kept her composure while Trump often tried to dominate, talking over the moderator, Hillary and the time allotment. And while Hillary egged him on with her smug face, smarmy self-satisfied smile and frequent derisive laughter, Trump often got tangled in the weeds. I think, in the end, Hillary wins on style points while Trump got some memorable shots off.

But it was Hillary’s sheer bravado, her cojones, her galling Clinton attitude that allowed her to plunge into areas that she arguably had no business lecturing others -- like Cyber Security. How in the world could Ms I’ll-Bring-My-Own-Server to State Dept lecture anyone else? And yet, Trump missed a big shot here.

In the aftermath, as the event fades we are perhaps less impressed by Hillary’s discipline when we realize she’s been playing various roles her whole life. Instead, it’s frustrating to know Trump could have given a better performance had he merely prepared more studiously. So his greatest strength leads to a stumble. But second was the fact that the debate was long on promises and short on details.

While Trump was vague, Hillary was just as bad. That because Trump was undisciplined last night it did not make Hillary’s feeble forays into policy remotely coherent, just less manic. Hillary seems to have no functional understand, or even interest in economics. Donald, on the other hand, came across as someone who makes decisions when he needs to and doesn’t pay attention until then.

What Hillary gained was the sense she is not dying and neither was she overawed next to Trump. Preparation has a way of doing that. Trump gained by seeming more civil and less insulting yet refusing to give up his maverick approach.
Net change? Zero. And Trump now leads the UPI Electoral College Poll. And the next debates loom...