At 1st Debate, Trump Couldn’t Wipe That Smug Grin Off Hillary’s Face, But He Came Close

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LOTS OF HAYMAKERS, BUT
NO KNOCKOUT BLOW…

SHE SURVIVED FOR NOW…

CONTENDERS BATTLE FIERCELY OVER TAXES, RACE, TERROR…
Record Ratings…
PAPER SHOCK: She loses ground among voters in swing state…

“Here’s the bottom line on the first presidential debate of 2016: Maybe Donald Trump should have done more prep. On so many fronts he should have been able to wipe that smug grin off Hillary’s face; he did not rise to the challenge. Both candidates had singular ambitions in this confrontation; neither achieved what they might have hoped, but Hillary, aided and abetted by Lester Holt, came out ahead.

Hillary Clinton’s only task in this first presidential debate was to excite people about her candidacy, and reduce her “enthusiasm gap.” That she did not do, but she did manage to cast her adversary as unprepared and unfocused.

Donald Trump’s one ambition in this debate was to convince American voters that he was presidential material, and not the monster that Hillary Clinton and the media have made him out to be. He came close.

Arguably, Trump had the easier assignment. However, he was up against not only his rival, but also against moderator Lester Holt. Holt offered Hillary one topic after another with which she could attack Trump – including several that have been central to her campaign — and she took full advantage of the opportunity.

It was disappointing to Trump fans to see Mrs. Clinton put him on the defensive so adroitly. Instead of counter-attacking, he spent much of the debate defending his treatment of women, when he should have called her out for savaging the women who have charged Bill with sexual assault.

Similarly, Holt put him on the defensive about not releasing his tax returns. Trump parried by saying he would release them when Hillary publishes the 30,000 emails that she deleted. — He should have added that he was still waiting for the transcripts of her speeches to Goldman Sachs.”

READ MORE: foxnews.com/opinion/2016/09/27/at-first-debate-trump-couldn-t-wipe-that-smug-grin-off-hillary-s-face-but-came-close.html