5 Debate Moments That Will Impact the Race

The first presidential debate of the 2016 general election campaign played out mainly on Democrat Hillary Clinton’s turf, partly because of the questions posed by moderator Lester Holt and partly because Republican Donald Trump missed some opportunities.

The result is that Trump spent too much time on the defensive about his own controversies and too little time either hammering Clinton on her scandals or highlighting the issues that favor him. There was not a single question about his signature issue, immigration. Holt also did not ask a single question about “pay-to-play” allegations surrounding the Clinton Foundation.

“For 30 years, you’ve been doing it, and now you’re just starting to think of solutions,” said Trump.

Trump did get his jabs in on a few key issues like trade, however.

Here are five debate moments that could shape the final 42 days of the campaign:

1.) Clinton’s Accomplishment-Free Record 
Again and again, Trump deployed his rhetorical ace in the hole to respond to any Clinton promise — “why haven’t you already fixed it?”

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The former first lady, senator from New York, and secretary of state loves to highlight her experience. But it can cut both ways. Trump pointed to economic problems in Michigan, Ohio, and other states that have shed manufacturing jobs over the past three decades.

“And, Hillary, I’d just ask you this: You’ve been doing this for 30 years,” he said. “Why are you just thinking about these solutions right now? For 30 years, you’ve been doing it, and now you’re just starting to think of solutions.”

Clinton stammered a response and Trump hit her on the economy. “I will bring — excuse me. I will bring back jobs,” he said, “You can’t bring back jobs.”

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Trump linked Clinton to the North America Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), signed by her husband in the 1990s. Clinton tried to shift the issue to a trade deal that she voted against, the Central America Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA). But it was not all that convincing.

Later, Clinton accused Trump of living in his “own reality,” when challenged over her previous characterization of the Trans-Pacific Partnership as the “gold standard.” Clinton denied it. “The facts are — I did say I hoped it would be a good deal.”

Those are not the facts. Clinton didn’t say she hoped it would be the gold standard. She said it was.

The more Trump makes the campaign about trade, the better for him.

2.) Trump’s Defense of Stop-and-Frisk
Trump had a memorable exchange with Holt over New York City’s former policy of stopping and frisking people in high-crime areas. When Holt said the program had been ruled unconstitutional, Trump corrected him on the facts.

“No, you’re wrong. It went before a judge, who was a very ‘against police’ judge. It was taken away from her,” he said. “And our mayor, our new mayor, refused to go forward with the case. They would have won an appeal. If you look at it, throughout the country, there are many places where it’s allowed.”

For good measure, Trump noted that Michael Bloomberg continued the policy he had inherited upon becoming mayor. Trump rejected the argument that the policy is racist, noting that Chicago has experienced thousands of shootings since the beginning of the year. He made an impassioned — and accurate — argument that improving public safety would disproportionately benefit minorities.

“And we need law and order in the inner cities, because the people that are most affected by what’s happening are African-American and Hispanic people,” he said. “And it’s very unfair to them what our politicians are allowing to happen.”

Trump’s correction of a journalist, on the fly, demonstrated an impressive command of detail about a complex issue by a candidate who supposedly is ignorant of the nuances of public policy.

3.) Clinton’s Emails
The flow of the debate made it hard to highlight Clinton’s use of a private server to bypass the government system. Holt brought up the topic only once and that was to give Clinton a chance to respond to a passing comment made by Trump.

Clinton significantly downplayed her conduct.

“And if I had to do it over again, I would, obviously, do it differently,” she said. “But I’m not going to make any excuses. It was a mistake, and I take responsibility for that.”

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Trump blasted her in response.

“That was more than a mistake,” he said. “That was done purposely. OK? That was not a mistake. That was done purposely … I think it’s disgraceful. And believe me, this country thinks it’s really — thinks it’s disgraceful, also.”

It was an effective line, but Trump failed to follow it up with details. There was nothing about how she handled classified information and lied about it — none of the devastating quotes from FBI Director James Comey.

4) The Birther Issue
Holt asked Trump about his past questioning of Obama’s American birth. Aside from wasting time on an old issue likely not at the top of voters’ concerns, any energy devoted to it likely hurts Trump among independent voters he needs to win the election.

Sensing an opening, Clinton pounced.

“He has really started his political activity based on this racist lie that our first black president was not an American citizen,” she said. “There was absolutely no evidence for it, but he persisted, he persisted year after year, because some of his supporters, people that he was trying to bring into his fold, apparently believed it or wanted to believe it.”

The strategic response would have been to brush off the query and talk about jobs, stagnant incomes, trade, illegal immigration — virtually anything. Instead, Trump took the bait. He tried to defend his conduct and unconvincingly argued that he engineered a real achievement when Obama released his birth certificate.

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“And I think I did a great job and a great service not only for the country, but even for the president, in getting him to produce his birth certificate,” he said.

Most black voters are not likely to agree, which does Trump’s minority outreach efforts no favors.

5.) Trump’s Tax Returns, Bankruptcies 
Holt pressed Trump one of his most vulnerable areas — his failure to release his tax returns. Polls show Americans overwhelmingly believe he should do so.

Trump pointed to a financial disclosure form that he filled out when he became a candidate.

Clinton also noted that Trump has filed for bankruptcy protection six different times.

“There are a lot of great businesspeople that have never taken bankruptcy once,” she said, employing a line that undermines his argument that his business acumen qualifies him for the presidency.

Too bad for Trump that his opponent was not pressed about her own vulnerabilities.