Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump and Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton sparred in the first of three debates Monday evening, and the debate was full of fireworks as the two fought over issues plaguing the country and their political campaigns.
Monday’s debate was unique for several reasons, as neither candidate represents the typical political candidate Americans have seen in the past. Clinton is the first woman nominee of a major political party and Trump has no political experience whatsoever.
It was a match made for the history books.
The debate started out calm on both ends, but it wasn’t long before the claws came out.
Jobs were a hot topic in the debate. Clinton said she would be better at creating jobs and would support equal pay and working parents. Clinton claiming her economic plan would create around 10 million jobs for Americans, while saying Trump’s plan would ultimately cost the nation over 3 million jobs.
Trump, on the other hand, said he would cut taxes and would stop companies from moving much-needed jobs overseas, opting instead to create jobs domestically.
The debate was mostly a back-and-forth between the two candidates reiterating their positions while finally getting the chance to sink their teeth into one another on the public stage after months of relentless campaigning against one another.
Clinton criticized Trump’s economic policies, calling them “trumped up, trickle-down” policies which would only help the wealthy.
When it came to the Trans Pacific Partnership, Trump attacked Clinton for approving the trade agreement with a dozen Pacific countries. Trump pointed to comments Clinton made while serving as Secretary of State, calling the trade agreement the “gold standard” of trade deals.
"You want to approve Trans-Pacific Partnership," Trump claimed. "You were totally in favor of it. When you heard what I was saying, how bad it is, and you said, I can't win that debate."
The two candidates butted heads several times during the debate, often interrupting one another and speaking over each other throughout the hour-and-a-half long debate. Trump and Clinton both tended to fend for themselves with moderator Lester Holt rarely interjecting.
Clinton’s emails came up in the debate after Holt asked why Trump hasn’t released his tax returns. Trump said he would release his tax returns when Clinton released the 33,000 emails she deleted in her email scandal.
“I will release my tax returns against my lawyers’ wishes when she releases her 33,000 deleted emails,” Mr. Trump said. The crowd applauded Trump for his remarks.
Trump seized the moment to dig into Clinton over the email scandal.
“That was more than a mistake — that was done purposely,” he said. “When you have your staff taking the Fifth Amendment, taking the Fifth, so they’re not prosecuted, when you have the man that set up the illegal server taking the Fifth, I think it’s disgraceful.”
Florida Republicans criticized Clinton and praised Trump, commending him for his “poise” and “consistency.”
“Tonight, Hillary Clinton proved to be the wrong choice to lead our nation as Commander-in-Chief, defending policies that have failed the American people for the past 30 years. When it comes to discussing the economy, tax policy, trade and job creation, Secretary Clinton looked like a career politician who is clearly out of her league,” said Republican Party of Florida Chairman Blaise Ingoglia.
Both candidates suffer similar circumstances in terms of favorability, so Monday’s debate gave both the opportunity to begin to change voters’ minds. Recent polls have the two in a tight race, with the gap narrowing smaller and smaller each week.
Two more debates are scheduled to air before Election Day.
Reach reporter Allison Nielsen by email at allison@sunshinestatenews.com or follow her on Twitter: @AllisonNielsen.
Comments
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Hillary admits she did not
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Personally, I could care less
So should you, well were
Trump lies and distorts the