A television audience of more than 100 million people – bigger than the biggest Super Bowl – is projected to watch the presidential debate Monday evening between Democrat Hillary Clinton, a former secretary of state, and Republican Donald Trump, a real estate mogul and reality show star.
As pundit nation has observed, it is the opening bout between complete opposites in personality and experience. It’s the first time a woman has stood in our country’s toughest political arena. We hope, for everyone’s sake, that the 90-minute event amounts to more than a curiosity, or just entertainment.
We are not going to replay the noise here today – the nasty name-calling, the incendiary statements, the insulting proposals and the very poor choice of words that have preceded the debate. You know what’s been said. Let’s cut to the chase: Which of these two candidates is fit to assume the sheer power of the presidency and lead?
Who should represent all Americans on the international stage?
Which of these two candidates displays the calm, predictable resolve necessary in a commander in chief?
Which candidate is more likely to deliver on improving the economy, which by all reports has improved over the past eight years?
Who has real plans, not rhetoric?
Neither candidate is winning a popularity contest – the latest polls average a 55 percent unfavorable rating for Clinton and 58 percent for Trump; in an ABC/Washington Post survey this month, only 34 percent of voters said they considered either candidate honest and trustworthy. But, we must choose on Nov. 8.
No one should sit out a race for president of the United States – especially not this race. Nor should they cast their vote for a third-party candidate with no chance of winning.
Want to make a statement? Step back from the campaign cacophony Monday night. Weigh the impact that this race – which is tight here and around the nation – will have for years to come.
Many of our fellow voters support Trump because they are frustrated and believe he will bring change, for them, for their families, for the country. But how? Change for its sake alone is not a reason to vote for Donald Trump. Think of the long term. See if he will tell us how he will pay for what he has proposed. How will he get the necessary approvals from Congress?
Through the political cauldron for the past 24 years, Hillary Clinton has – remarkably – continued in public service, as first lady, a U.S. senator and as the country’s chief diplomat. She has withstood unprecedented scrutiny, by the FBI, special prosecutors and seven congressional committees. She is not an “outsider” to government or foreign affairs.
Trump, who has never held elected office or served in any government capacity, cites his skill as a dealmaker. On Monday night, ask yourself what kind of experience counts in a president, in today’s complex world, especially when it comes to the sophisticated issues – and threats – of modern terrorism. Can we go it alone? Is it enough to talk tough? How and when have these candidates been tested?
The good and evil in television debates is the visuals.
Richard Nixon sweated it out, literally, with John F. Kennedy in the first televised presidential debate exactly 56 years ago Monday night. That’s what we remember. As so many have observed since then, it’s the image not the words that matters.
We believe conscientious New Hampshire voters will base their assessment more on substance than style. We are a swing state which means our four electoral votes could make a difference. We ask you to listen, closely, to what’s really said Monday night, and at the two debates scheduled for October.
There are 45 days left until the general election – and so much at stake.