Clinton Opted Not to Go for a Kill Shot

“In any normal election season, Trump’s debate performance would be graded a campaign-killing disaster. But 2016 is no ordinary year, and Trump was already so gravely wounded, with Republicans across the country rescinding their endorsements, that his ability to avoid a complete meltdown Sunday night ranks as a win,” Ben White writes.

“And Clinton for her part opted not to go for the kill shot. She mostly laughed off Trump’s attacks and declined to bring up the sexual assault allegations against him, instead pivoting to her own vision for the nation’s future. The lack of aggression irritated some Democrats who wanted to see Clinton knock down a staggering opponent.”

“But the high-road approach appeared to work with voters who declared Clinton the winner of the debate in multiple polls. And Clinton may have held back for strategic reasons, preferring to keep Trump alive rather than bait him into campaign killing moments that could drive him off the ticket in favor of Mike Pence . Clinton would likely win in any scenario but a Trump withdrawal would create significant uncertainty in a race that is now tilting back heavily in Clinton’s direction.”