Clinton weathers Trump's onslaught in bitter second debate
The Democratic candidate maintained a sober poise, while her Republican opponent delivered the crowd-pleasing zingers.
Tuesday 11 October 2016 01:48, UK
The nasty tone of this election campaign just got Trumped.聽
There was no handshake for Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton as they kicked off what would be
This debate was expected to define Donald Trump's bid for the White House. His sexually aggressive boasts about women were top of the agenda.
Once again he defended himself by saying it was "locker room talk" before taking an abrupt reroute to defeating Islamic State.
Hillary Clinton said the taped comments show exactly who Mr Trump is. Any question over whether the Republican candidate would opt for contrition over aggression was soon answered as he hammered Mrs Clinton's husband, saying there has never been anyone in the history of politics who has been so abusive to women.
No one mentioned that Bill Clinton is, of course, not running for president.
Mrs Clinton referenced Michelle Obama's convention speech line "when they go low, you go high," that would be her mantra for the rest of the debate.
A tough position to maintain in the face of the Trump onslaught, but she weathered it. Performance wise she was sober and factual leaving it to her rival to deliver the rare, crowd-pleasing zingers.
Then the furious race to guide the narrative. Normally representatives from each party would be queuing up to come to the spin room post debate to vouch for their candidate, but after his latest, most damaging scandal, Republicans willing to support Mr Trump have been dropping like flies.
Defending him at the moment is a tough gig left largely to top former New York Mayor and Trump defender-in-chief, Rudy Giuliani. I asked him if Mr Trump maintaining his locker room line would satisfy disgusted voters.
"You gotta get real," he said, adding: "I can't say when I hear language like that I faint."
Mrs Clinton had no obviously victorious moment for her campaign to spin. Donna Brazile, acting chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee, said Mrs Clinton was right to focus on policy and her plan for the future.
The last question of the night was whether each could name one positive thing they respect in the other. Mrs Clinton opted for Trump's children - Mr Trump said Mrs Clinton never gives up.
Tonight he made it clear that he does not give up either. This race isn't over yet.