BloggeRhythms

Regardless of what delving into specific statistical outcomes may eventually disclose, last night’s debate proved hugely successful for Trump. Because, as reported by James S. Robbins @usatoday.com this morning: “Trump pulled off presidential”

Mr. Robbins writes: “Like Reagan in 1980, viewers saw a Trump who was better than the liberal talking points. 

“You can’t fact check leadership, and tonight Donald Trump showed himself a leader.”

A comparison was then made to none other than to the revered Ronald Reagan. 

“Overall, [Jimmy] Carter kept Reagan on the defensive, and the president probably won on points. However, Reagan’s affability and easy manner wore well against Carter’s stern lecturing. Reagan did not come off as the cartoonish, conservative cowboy of Democratic talking points. The Lowell Sun observed, “Ronald Reagan had not self-destructed. He had not made any ill-advised statements that were clearly foolish, as Carter had hoped. Reagan appeared calm under Carter’s attack. With his polished stage manner, he went a long way in presenting himself as presidential timber.” Many Americans agreed. A Gallup poll two days before the debate showed Reagan trailing Carter 39% to 47%. A week later, Reagan won the election 51% to 41%.

“The same words could apply to 2016. Donald Trump did not self-destruct, he did not make foolish statements (whether you agree with him or not), he gave as well as he got. And despite Clinton’s numerous mocking remarks to the contrary, he came off as presidential. And that’s a fact.”

As far as the numbers themselves are concerned, polling data for last night’s contest is in and the results are debatable.  

According to dailymail.co.uk: “CNN awarded Hillary Clinton an overwhelming victory in the first presidential debate - but most snap polls show Trump emerged victorious. 

“Online polls carried out afterwards gave a different outcome - handing the title to Trump. 

“Such polls are self-selecting, and more likely to pick up the views of those who vote, although CNN's study also reflected a similar bias. 

“The Drudge Report's poll showed Trump fared better with 81.5 per cent of the vote to Clinton's 18.5 while others, including Time, CBS New York and the Washington Times, also saw Trump win the vote.” 

FoxNews.com’s Charles Krauthammer arrived at a similar conclusion regarding both candidate’s performance, but gave the edge to Trump. 

“It was not exactly the knock out fight that we thought. It was a spirited fight. I think in the end it was something like a draw. But I do believe that the draw goes to the challenger in the sense that Trump did not go over the line. And the very fact he could go 90 minutes on the same stage ultimately elevates the challenger, that's just automatic for any debate of that sort.” 

Which on an otherwise slow news day, brings us to the update on Bill Clinton’s wife.  

David Lightman and Tim Funk @charlotteobserver.com, addressed results from a focus group of voters from around Charlotte conducted by McClatchy and the Charlotte Observer, as follows:   

“Indeed, while polls said that Clinton won the first general election debate with Donald Trump Monday, she may not have won actual votes. And she may even have lost some, at least in the battleground state of North Carolina. 

“The closeness of the race – even after a seeming Clinton win in the debate – was underscored in the hour-long discussion with voters after watching the debate at Queens University of Charlotte. 

“Kae Roberts and Jay Eardly were leaning toward Hillary Clinton before Monday night’s debate. 

“By the end, they had both pulled away. 

“John Kokos and Hank Federal were undecided going in, potential Clinton backers. 

“By the end, they’d ruled her out. 

And most important about the voter’s change of heart, are the reasons why. 

“For the four who emerged less impressed by Clinton, it was the seeming familiarity of her proposals for the economy and national security that was a turnoff. 

“Roberts, who is unaffiliated with a party, wrote in her notes several times during the debate that Clinton offered “pie in the sky” ideas. By debate’s end, she had moved from leaning toward Clinton to undecided.” 

All of which underlines that regardless of her debating skills, years in politics and government, voters today want answers to their administration-caused dilemmas. And she’s not only not the solution, she’s a major part of the problem.

Bringing up the ongoing question once more: Bernie Sanders, Joe Biden, Jerry Brown, and Starbucks chairman and CEO, Howard Schultz; are you guys reading this? 

That's it for today folks.     

Adios