It is surprising that it took a television debate to decide that Hillary Clinton is a better candidate for tenanting the White House than her Republican rival Donald Trump.
Given her academic background and her wide-ranging experience as a professional politician, in the normal course the question– who between Clinton and Trump — ought to have been a no-brainer.
But these are not normal times even for the Americans. Ordinary Americans, especially those in the middle- and lower-income groups, have seen static incomes since the early 90s. The blue collar working classes are especially feeling the pinch. The real estate tycoon who is not weighed down by any political baggage sweeps aside the conventional politics to emerge as the presidential candidate of the mainline Republican Party.
Bluff, bluster and bombast were his most potent tools. But that he lacked gravitas would emerge only after a one-to-one debate with his erudite, though highly amoral, Democratic rival. In the event, Hillary spotlighted the extreme vulnerability of Candidate Trump. He does not have it in him to lead the most powerful nation in the world. He had his moments early on in the 90-minute debate, extracting some mileage from the fact that he was a successful real estate developer while she had been a professional politician all her working life, something that plays well with the anti-establishment voters.
But soon Clinton found her feet, and revealed the empty-headedness of her rival. He scowled, grimaced and drank water to suppress uneasiness. It was an unequal contest. She managed to paint him, on the strength of his record, a racist and anti-woman. After the debate, Trump sought to excuse his failure, saying he did not want to rake up her husband’s philandering since their daughter, Chelsea, sat in the audience.
Admittedly, this was only the first of three debates. He may do better in the next one, or fluff it up completely by unleashing angry diatribe against her. Regardless, his die-hard supporters are unlikely to switch sides. But what the debate does do is to help the undecided voters to make up their minds.
Since the contest is too close to call, Monday’s clear win gives Clinton a certain boost. She can only build on this lead further as the Real Donald exposes his total lack of qualification for the most powerful post in the world. Yes, by some accounts the contest is between two undesirable candidates. But there is near unanimity, especially among the thinking classes, that she is the least undesirable of the two and, therefore, must be elected to reassure not just the Americans but in some ways the entire world.
