The Clinton versus Trump debate

by Hans Izaak Kriek*

It will air live from 9 till 10:30 p.m. without commercial breaks and will be carried on all major networks – ABC, C-SPAN, CBS, Fox, NBC, CNN, Fox News and MSNBC, among others. 

The first debate will be split into six segments of approximately 15 minutes each on major topics to be selected by the moderator and announced a week before the debate. Facebook and Google are providing data to the moderator on topics generating search interest and what people are saying about the election, the candidates and the issues. The moderator will open each segment with a question and then each candidate will have two minutes to respond. The candidates will then have the opportunity respond to each other.

Who will win the debates? 

Trump’s approach was an important part of his strength in the primaries. But will it work when he faces Clinton on stage? Except for her gender, Hillary Clinton is highly convential presidential candidate. She’s been in public life for decades. Her rhetoric is carefully calibrated. She tailors her views to reflect the mainstream within her party. The first presidential debate is very important for Hillary Clinton. She’s back on her feet after a few days recuperating from what her doctor characterised as a mild bout of pneumonia. She has to prepare herself for the debate with her presidential rival Donald Trump because it will become a hard fight. 

What would the debate look like?

If she’s wise, she must launch a direct attack that Trump’s primary opponents were to slow to use. She might say, ‘Mr. Trump says he supports the Bill of Rights - by the way, how many are there? He represents the party of Lincoln. By the way, when did he serve?’ You have to go right in there and demonstrate the utter ridiculousness of everything he says.’ Hillary is an experienced politician who negotiated as US secretary of state for many years. Her task has made her to follow protocols

Donald Trump will almost certainly insult her directly, about her own crookedness and about the sins of her husband, the e-mailgate and the Benghazi-affair. This was the heart of his strategy during the primary debates. I expect Trump to be Trump. Other then that expects more of the same. Trump provided harsh comments about women, and sometimes uses impolite words to win the debate however he is popular and has a chance for becoming the next president.

This event could be a make-or-break moment for each of the two candidates.  By September 26, we’ll be only six weeks from Election Day. Debates are candidates’ final opportunity to speak directly to the largest group of citizens, to make their case and, as a result, change perceptions, minds and votes.

* Hans Izaak Kriek is a former Dutch political television-journalist and now editor-in-chief of Kriek Media.