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The Clinton-Trump debate section that silenced a group of young Republicans

Nick O'Malley

CHARLOTTE: During the last presidential debate of this long, weird election season at a bar with members of the Mecklenburg Young Republican Party in Charlotte, the largest city in the crucial state of North Carolina, one of the party faithful sidled up to mutter in my ear.

"So how are you enjoying, 'America, the season finale'?"

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Trump, Clinton square off in final debate

Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton have clashed over a raft of issues in the third and final US presidential debate at the University of Nevada in Las Vegas.

His grim humour summed up the mood of what in other circumstances would have been a pretty good party. Young Republicans are generally pretty good hosts.

This crowd seemed already fairly certain that their party's candidate was going to be defeated, and that it was going to be an ugly defeat, one orchestrated by a man who did not stand for many of their beliefs.

Customers watch the US presidential debate at the Pinche Gringo BBQ restaurant in Mexico City.
Customers watch the US presidential debate at the Pinche Gringo BBQ restaurant in Mexico City. Photo: AP

"This is f---ing pitiful," said one of the group's office holders. "I mean from both candidates," he added quickly.

During the first half of the debate a few people enjoyed elements of Donald Trump's performance. They laughed when he barked "Wrong!" time and again during Clinton's answers. Trump's line on illegal immigrants, "We have some bad hombres here and we're going to get them out", brought the house down.

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But the tone changed when Chris Wallace, the no-nonsense host from Fox News, introduced the section titled "Fitness to be president".

It was not lost on the room that in any other circumstances it would be absurd that a presidential debate include such a section. Not under these circumstances though.

Republican supporters were silent when Donald Trump struggled through the ''Fitness to be president'' section.
Republican supporters were silent when Donald Trump struggled through the ''Fitness to be president'' section. Photo: AP

Having introduced the section, Wallace asked Trump why so many women would make up stories about him groping them. Trump responded, "Nobody has more respect for women than me," and the young Republicans laughed out loud. It sounded as though they were laughing at their candidate. (Indeed in Nevada the Republican pollster confirmed that his entire focus group dismissed Trump's answer.)

They fell silent when Hillary Clinton listed the professional failures that Trump had blamed on conspiracies, and they stayed quiet until the debate ended.

The political skills Hillary Clinton displayed in Wednesday's debate were remarkable.
The political skills Hillary Clinton displayed in Wednesday's debate were remarkable. Photo: AP

This is not to say they have any time for Clinton. Indeed they view her with such mistrust and dislike that Trump's failings against them frustrate them all the more. Though many in the room backed different candidates in the primaries – Rand Paul and Ted Cruz among the most popular – most agreed that anyone with more poise and less baggage than Trump would have been able to better capitalise on information leaked about Clinton from internal Democratic Party emails.

As an outsider the most shocking part of the debate was Trump's refusal to say categorically that he would accept the election result. It is a sign of how disenchanted many voters are here that in this room that was considered a fair point.

The debate ended less than 12 hours after early voting was to begin in North Carolina, a state that should be a walkover for the Republican Party, and one that Trump must take if he is to win the White House. A poll just before the debate found that Clinton led Trump by 2 per cent.

When Wallace finally ended the debate most here in this room rose to leave without another word. 

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