Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump and his Democratic rival
Hillary Clinton at Hofstra University on September 26, 2016 in
Hempstead, New York. The two bickered and traded insults in a fiery
first of three US presidential debate, as they aggressively pitched
their case to tens of millions of American voters. PHOTO | AFP
By AFP
In Summary
- Clinton hit her rival as coming from a "very fortunate" background and called on voters to judge them both on the basis of "who can shoulder the immense, awesome responsibilities of the presidency.
- "Trump, who faces tough questions about his suitability for the Oval Office, started out with a more restrained tone -- he even ditched his red power tie for a more statesmanlike blue.
Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump bickered and traded insults
in a fiery US presidential debate Monday, as they aggressively pitched
their case to tens of millions of American voters.
With the White House rivals in a dead heat six weeks before
election day, Clinton from the get-go painted her Republican rival as
out of touch and having a tenuous relationship with the truth, willing
to say "crazy things" to get elected.
"You live in your own reality" said the 68-year old Democrat,
who accused Trump of launching his political career on a "racist lie" —
the birther conspiracy theory that questioned President Barack Obama's
citizenship.
Trump, who faces tough questions about his suitability for the
Oval Office, started out with a more restrained tone -- he even ditched
his red power tie for a more statesmanlike blue.
But he quickly went on the offensive, repeatedly interrupting Clinton with verbal jabs.
The celebrity businessman branded Clinton a "typical politician. All talk, no action. Sounds good, doesn't work."
In feisty exchanges on the economy, Trump reprised the themes
that have catalysed his improbable campaign, blaming Clinton and the
political class for losing jobs to Mexico and China through bad trade
deals.
"Our country is suffering because people like Secretary Clinton
have made such bad decisions in terms of our jobs and in terms of what's
going on," he said.
He demanded Clinton — a former secretary of state, first lady
and US senator — account for her time in government: "You've been doing
this for 30 years. Why are you just thinking about these solutions right
now? For 30 years, you've been doing it."
Clinton responded by accusing Trump of having "stiffed" small businesses throughout his business career.
Demanding Trump release his taxes, in keeping with election
custom, she accused him of backing an economic platform amounting to
"the most extreme" package of tax cuts for the wealthy in US history.
"I call it trumped up trickle-down, because that's exactly what it would be," she quipped.
Trump said he would release his tax returns, "when she releases
her 33,000 e-mails that have been deleted," alluding to the Democrat's
use of a private email server as secretary of state.
Super Bowl of politics
This Super Bowl of politics took place at Hofstra University on
Long Island, a mere 60-minute drive from Manhattan and chaired by NBC
Nightly News anchor Lester Holt
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