Smart Talk: Presidential campaigns after tense debate

What to look for on Smart Talk Monday, October 10, 2016:

Last night’s debate between Republican Donald Trump and Democrat Hillary Clinton was probably different than any other in American presidential campaign history.  Candidates have had testy exchanges in debates but perhaps none ever got as personal as the second debate in this campaign.

Coming two days after the release of a 2005 tape that recorded Trump talking about how celebrities aggressively pursue women in a sexual manner and with Republicans pulling their support across the country, Trump went on the offensive calling Clinton a liar and “the devil,” saying if elected he would appoint a special prosecutor to investigate whether she broke laws and countered that Clinton’s husband, former President Bill Clinton actually sexually assaulted women.

Clinton for her part also called Trump a liar, repeated that he is unfit to be president and said the tape showed exactly who Trump is.

On today’s Smart Talk, Franklin and Marshall College political analyst and pollster Dr. G. Terry Madonna joins us to make sense of it all and how the debate will impact voters.

Madonna also talks about several recent polls that show much different results in Pennsylvania’s U.S. Senate race between Democrat Katie McGinty and Republican incumbent Senator Pat Toomey.

EMAILS

On Debates:

I am an independent and will be voting for Gary Johnson, when I told this to a friend of mine in Liverpool he said, “You might as well just let Hillary anoint herself supreme leader”  When I told this to a friend in Mid-Town she said, “A vote for Johnson is a vote for Trump  “So, could someone please tell me who I am actually voting for when I vote for Johnson?                                        – Thomas

Obama Care is killing small businesses and the middle class.  My premium (which includes me and my husband) is $800 per month, our deductible went up to $4000 and my asthma medicine which used to be $90 per quarter is now $700 per quarter. For this reason, I will still vote for Trump-and I am a college educated woman!                                                                                  – Cathy 

A good emcee should not express his political views when the subject is one of entertained about them

                                                                                                              – Edward

There is some speculation that Donald Trump is calculating his behavior to hedge against a loss in November.  His talk of Pennsylvania’s vote being rigged if Hillary wins, and even his protestations agains the moderators as being against him last night, seem like moves one would make if he plans on launching a media company.  His hiring of Steve Bannon, consultation of Roger Ailes, etc… How likely is it that he’s not even running to win?  It certainly would explain the series of increasingly outrageous statements from his campaign.                                                                                                  – Mike, Mount Joy

Trump is crude and boorish , but  this faux outrage about an adolescent comment made 11 years ago is a joke. As a society we have a two billion dollar porn industry and have made Fifty Shades of Grey a national bestseller!  The pearl clutching republican establishment are the Roman senators dressed in togas while Trump is the barbarian at the gate. They are scared to death!                   – Joe 

As the Millennial Generation moves away from the use of a Land Line as their primary source of audio communication, what method(s) do you use to obtain an adequate sample size of this population in order to assure that your poll results are valid and reflect the actual views of the electorate?       –Terry 

In past statements, Donald Trump has stated if he were elected president, he would sue newspaper reporters who he thinks have misrepresented him and that he would immediately replace generals in order to protect the country more effectively. Last night, he proclaimed that the would pursue jailing Hillary Clinton if he were elected.  Would you comment on this trend toward what appears to me as fascism.                                                                                                                                       – Patrice, Sinking Spring

I think there is a delicious and hilarious irony in the final choices of the two major political parties, one of whom will become President.  In America, we don’t limit the time and money that candidates can spend in assuring us that they are the absolute best persons for the job.  We watch and listen to them carefully for YEARS as they criss-cross the country, arguing their positions and selling themselves.  In the end, after all the effort, the United States electorate through painful and careful evaluation has assured themselves that the choices are the absolute pinnacles of humankind and that our careful vetting has produced the best choices to run our country and represent us to the rest of the world.

Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you  – Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump…             -Mark, Newville

In regards to the recent “Trump Tape”, why do you think that the focus is on what his WORDS were regarding women rather than on what he said his ACTIONS were toward women (which I consider to be an “assault”)?                                                                                                                 – Terry 

I am surprised at the way we complain about the candidates being childish or accusatory. I think anyone who campaigns for more than a year and has accusations thrown at him or her right and left will become defensive. Who among us can just stand there and take accusations and bad naming without responding?The fact is Americans love that despite the fact that in public most say that can of attitude is disgraceful.                                                                                                                                               – Jose

Please don’t ignore the participation by the American Public in this year’s campaign!  It is unbelievable that the entire debate (not just the politicians) has sunk to sewage treatment levels.  Will we regret not giving enough media attention to an even tempered, reasonably logical, progressive candidate like John Kasich?                                                                                                                          – Sarah, Lancaster

President Obama has had a monumental task as the Republicans stated when he was first elected that their goal was to stop everything he wanted to do. It is amazing that he has been able to accomplish as much as he did. Getting a congress that will do its job, vote on nominations for judges, and pass budgets and other legislation to make the country work is what we need, NOT obstruction.                  – Mary, Gettysburg 

Could the present state of the two major parties’ candidates impact third parties this year and in the future?

                                                                                                                                    – Bernard