Does tonight’s first US 2016 presidential debate have the mojo to be dubbed as such?
The hype has been profound. And it would perhaps come close to blows in terms of its intensity. But until the dust is settled no one knows whose nose would be bleeding at the first US 2016 presidential debate between Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton and Republican candidate Donald Trump says journalist and author Gordon Offin-Amaniampong:
The epic debate which comes off tonight (Monday Sept.26) live from Hofstra University in New York is expected to pull viewership record of 100 million the biggest since Reagan and Carter debate in 1980 according to bookmakers.
What more? The debate will have its firsts—First time a male candidate will debate a female in US political history. And the first time both major parties (Democrat & Republican) have expressed deep misgivings about the candidates vying for the number One office.
In the meantime, I can say emphatically that the mock debate sessions and drills are over for Mrs. Clinton who’s vowed not to ignore caution or take anything for granted.
The reason, I believe she cannot tell which of the Trumps she will be facing off hours from now. Is it the Trump that builds the great wall between the US and Mexico and makes the Mexican government pay?
Or the Trump that meets the Mexican president in a more presidential fashion but returns home hours later and doubles down his earlier claim/?
Mr. Trump is like a chameleon- a protean character. He can hit below belt, he can jab and punch-drunk his opponents plus he’s capable of gifting upper-cuts. According to the New York Times Clinton’s opponent had largely shunned traditional debate preparations in the build up to the historic matchup. However, the paper reports, the business mogul had been watching videos of Mrs. Clinton’s best and worst debate moments—looking for vulnerabilities.
But what are viewers’ expectations in the 90-mionute ‘Titans fight’?
From the Clinton camp: Viewers are expecting the former secretary of state to debate on issues, be herself, avoid drifting too much into Trump’s corner at the same time being offensive.. Counter attacks and occasional interruptions could cause him to lose his cool. This would cast Mr. Trump as brusque and a man of no temperament and unfit to be president.
Being seen as a tough candidate would also boost her chances and help her carry the night
On the other side, Trump’s supporters expect him to unleash his trademark punches— the style that spurned him to take down 16 ‘Ninjas’ at the Republican primaries. Even though that reputation is said to be a myth, his supporters think otherwise, urging the controversial nominee to punch hard.
The question remains how cleverly can Mr. Trump do this without stepping on the toes of Mrs. Clinton?
Remember his remarks concerning Carli Fiorina’s looks at the republican primaries?
But all said, there will be eyeball to eyeball, boot for boot and punch for punch in tonight’s face off. There will be nothing like kiddies’ gloves.
Debates in the past
The first general election debate in the U. S was Senator JF Kennedy the democratic nominee and vice president Richard Nixon the Republican nominee. The debate was held in Chicago at the studios of CBS’s, WBBM-TV. The candidates had three debates but the one held on October 7 at the WRC-TV NBC studio in Washington DC drew the largest crowd.
The debate drew over 66 million viewers out of a population of 179 million, making one of the most watched broadcasts in the US television history.
The 1980 debate between Reagan and Carter drew 80 million viewers out of 226 million.
Recent debates have drawn decidedly smaller audiences, ranging from 46 million for the first 2000 debate to a high of over 67 million for the first debate in 2012.