Politics

Live Blog: The Final Debate

By Mark Joyella 

So here we are, about to watch this season’s last original episode of Debate Night in America. Or, as they are calling it at Telemundo, the Battala Decisiva or Decisive Battle.

The math, though Donald Trump insists the polls can’t be trusted, suggests a race that has turned forcefully against Trump. “If the trend keeps this way, (Clinton) is headed toward a blowout,” said CNN’s John King this afternoon. “The map is overwhelmingly in Secretary Clinton’s favor.”

“It’s not a road,” said David Gergen on CNN. It’s a path through the wilderness.” Will that lead Trump to shoot for a big moment, a knock-out, or something else tonight to change the dynamics of the race?

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On Fox News Channel, Carl Cameron said “Donald Trump himself has said that this is the most consequential event and night of the entire campaign.”

For Fox, it’s a big night. As The New York Times reported today:

“[O]n Wednesday here in Las Vegas, Fox News will celebrate a milestone for a channel that has long scrabbled for journalistic legitimacy: Its Sunday anchor, Chris Wallace, is set to moderate the final presidential debate, the first Fox journalist to take charge of a general election face-off. It would be the most consequential night of Fox News’s year — if the network had not just endured the most traumatic period in its two-decade history. Months after the ouster of Roger Ailes … the network is seeking to move forward … Unease remains … So for the team of Fox anchors and producers here this week, Mr. Wallace’s star turn is a welcome source of pride. And, maybe, some relief.”

Now, for others, relief may only come in the form of a stiff drink–or perhaps, a painkiller:

The pre-debate coverage had its moments, including CNN’s Anderson Cooper schooling Trump supporter Scottie Nell Hughes, who clashed on political history with David Gergen and then refused to stop talking to let Kirsten Powers speak.

“Will you please let her talk? You talked, now she talks,” Cooper said. “That’s how TV works.”

Meanwhile, on MSNBC:

At any rate, enough with all the outside-the-venue profanity. Let’s get inside to the on-stage profanity or whatever it is that’s about to happen.

Let the live blog begin.

9:03 p.m. ET: It’s beginning. Chris Wallace wants everyone in the debate hall to keep themselves quiet. And, as in the last debate, there is NO HANDSHAKE.

9:20 p.m. ET: Forcefully moderated by Chris Wallace, the candidates just got deep into their widely divided stands on guns and abortion. Dan Rather was impressed:

9:32 p.m. ET: Trump, in a back-and-forth over borders, Russia and Putin and says “you’re the puppet.” The tension, with Trump calling Clinton a liar, has clearly been elevated.

9:42 p.m. ET: How’s Chris Wallace doing? Here’s a few early reviews. Let us know what you think in the comments.

10:07 p.m. ET: The media, Trump says, has “poisoned the minds” of voters. “Corrupt media,” he argues, and then doubles down on his claims that the election is “rigged.”

10:18 p.m. ET: Trump, asked about Aleppo, gets into a bit of back-and-forth with Wallace, asking him “have you seen it? Have you seen it?”

10:24 p.m. ET: Here’s the storyline that will likely dominate the post-game discussion: Trump’s refusal to say he’ll concede should he lose.

10:35 p.m. ET: Surprise closing arguments!

POST GAME

CNN, Fox News and MSNBC all lead with Trump’s “I’ll keep you in suspense” remark about the conceding, should he lose.

CNN’s Jake Tapper on Trump’s comment about not accepting the results of the election: “One of the most stunning things I’ve heard in a presidential debate, ever.”

Fox News Channel’s Megyn Kelly said the reaction to Trump’s comment was “the online equivalent of a jaw drop.” Brit Hume said “I think he stepped on it,” with that comment.

On the debate overall, David Axelrod concluded “this was a disaster for Donald Trump, and said Trump’s biggest misstep was the comment on concession. “He wrote the lede of the story.”

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