September 27, 2016: Trump v. Clinton: What’s Next? A More Civil Debate? Hofstra Proud & Disappointed

> TONIGHT ON 'METROFOCUS,' THE POLLS ARE A BIT SCATTERED, BUT ACCORDING TO MOST IT WAS A HOME RUN FOR HILARY CLINTON IN THE FIRST PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE.

SHE TOOK ON TAXES, TERROR AND HER OPPONENT DONALD TRUMP HANDILY.

BUT WILL THE FORMER FIRST LADY WIN THE PRESIDENCY?

SOME STARTLING INSIGHT FROM NATE SILVER ON WHY ANOTHER CLINTON WHITE HOUSE MAY NOT BE BE IN THE CARDS.

PLUS, WE'VE HE GOT THE RESULTS FROM TWO VERY DIFFERENT VIEWING PART KWIS, FIRST TO NEW YORK CITY'S LINCOLN CENTER WHERE VOTERS HECKLED HILLARY AND LAUGHED AT TRUMP'S SNIFFLES.

SOME WERE LEFT WITH MANY IMPRESSIONS BUT MOST LEFT AMUSED.

WE'LL FIND OUT WHY.

THE DEBATE, THE TAKE-AWAY AND THE FALLOUT.

STARTS RIGHT NOW.

Announcer: THIS IS 'MET TROE RO FOCUS' WITH RAFAEL PI ROMAN, JACK FORD AND JENNA FLANAGAN.

FUNDING FOR THIS PROGRAM WAS PROVIDED BY --

WELL, I HAVE MUCH BETTER JUDGMENT THAN SHE HAS.

THERE'S NO DOUBT ABOUT THAT.

I HAVE A MUCH BETTER TEMPERAMENT THAN SHE DOES.

LET ME TELL YOU SHE SPENT HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS ON ADVERTISING, THEY GET MADISON AVENUE INTO A ROOM, TEMPERAMENT, LET'S PUT -- I THINK MY STRONGEST ASSET MAYBE BY FAR IS MY TEMPERAMENT.

I HAVE A WINNING TEMPERAMENT.

I KNOW HOW TO WIN.

SHE DOES NOT KNOW HOW TO WIN.

THE AFL-CIO THE OTHER DAY, BEHIND THE BLUE SCREEN, I DON'T KNOW WHO YOU WERE TALKING TO, SECRETARY CLINTON, BUT YOU WERE TOTALLY OUT OF CONTROL.

I SAID, THERE'S A PERSON WITH A TEMPERAMENT THAT HAS A PROBLEM.

SECRETARY CLINTON.

WHOO!

OKAY.

GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO 'METROFOCUS.'

IT WAS BILLED AS THE DEBATE OF THE CENTURY, BUT DID LAST NIGHT'S SHOWDOWN LIVE UP TO THE HYPE?

YOU'VE LIKELY HEARD THE SOUND BITES FROM THE FIRST PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE AT HOFSTRA UNIVERSITY PLAYED OVER AND OVER AND IT CONTINUES ON RECALL SIDES.

WE'LL HAVE REACTIONS FROM THE CAMPUS IN JUST A MOMENT.

BUT FIRST HERE'S WHAT WE KNOW.

DONALD TRUMP INTERRUPTED HILLARY CLINTON $51 TIMES AND WAS PERCEIVE AS UNPREPARED WHILE MOST OF THE INTERNET GAVE MODERATOR LESTER HOEMT LOW MARKS FOR HIS ABILITY TO CONTROL THE EVENT.

BUT BROADCASTERS GOT HIGH MARKS BECAUSE AN ESTIMATED 106 MILLION PEOPLE TUNED IN LAST NIGHT TO SEE THE CANDIDATES SQUARE OFF.

MAKING IT THE MOST WATCHED INPERSPECTIVE, NBC'S CHUCK TODD CALLING THE DEBATE SUR VEAL, AND ON CNN FOUR-TIME PRESIDENTIAL ADVISER DAVID GERGEN POSTED THE QUESTION, CLINTON CRUSHED TRUMP BUT WAS THAT ENOUGH?

THE 'NEW YORK POST' COVER SAID DON NOT OUT.

BUT ONE OF THE PAPER'S LEADING VOICES SLAMMED THE CANDIDATE AS INCOMPETENT, SAYING HIS PERFORMANCE WAS A SLAP IN THE FACE TO HIS SUPPORTERS.

'THE NEW YORK TIMES' EDITORIAL BOARD SAID THAT THIS WAS AN UGLY CAMPAIGN CONDENSED INTO ONE DEBATE ADDING THAT THE WORD 'DEBATE' LOSES ITS MEANING WHEN WHEN ONE CANDIDATE IS SERIOUS AND OTHER IS A BULLY.

TIMELY NAT SILVER FROM 538.COM CONCEDED THAT CLINTON WON THE DEBATE, WHICH SHOULD MEAN A BUMP IN THE POLLS FOR HER.

BUT IF THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN, TRUMP COULD BE TOUGH TO BEAT.

SILVER ADDED THE REAL EFFECT ON THE DEBATE ON THE PUBLIC WON'T BE SEEN FOR FIVE TO SEVEN DAYS.

THAT'S A LOT TO TAKE IN.

WE'RE JOINED BY TWO POLITICAL ANALYSTS WHO HAVE BEEN CLOSELY FOLLOWING THE ELECTION, AMY HOLMES FROM RASMUSSEN REPORTS AND FORMER CLOMIST FOR 'NEWSDAY.'

WELCOME BACK.

THANK YOU.

SO ELLIS, THE GENERAL CONSENSUS AT LEAST AMONG THE PUNDIT SZ THAT HILLARY WON AND WON HANDILY.

BUT IT WAS IT ENOUGH TO MOVE THE NEEDLE TO VERSE THE TRUMP MOMENTUM WE'VE SEEN LATELY?

WELL, INDEED IT WAS HER BEST NIGHT OF THE CAMPAIGN AND MAYBE HIS WORST NIGHT.

BUT YOU'RE ASKING THE RIGHT HE RIGHT QUESTION.

IN A NATION AS WITH DIVIDED AS WE ARE WITH OPINIONS AS HARDENED AS THEY ARE, CAN ANY NIGHT SWAY HUGE AMOUNTS OF VOTERS?

WHO ON EARTH IS AN UNDECIDED VOTER AT THIS POINT?

I'M STILL TRYING TO GET MY HEAD AROUND THAT.

YES, IT WILL STOP THE TRUMP MOMENTUM THAT HE WAS PULLING EVEN WITH HILLARY.

WILL IT HAVE A HUGE AFFECT ON THE POLLS?

PROBABLY NOT?

AMY?

I AGREE WITH THAT.

I COULD FEEL CONSERVATIVES ACROSS AMERICA LAST NIGHT CRINGE AT ALL OF THE MISSED OPPORTUNITIES FOR DONALD TRUMP.

I THINK HIS LACK OF PREPAREDNESS CERTAINLY SHOWED.

BUT, YOU KNOW, I THINK THE DONALD IS GOING TO LIVE TO FIGHT ANOTHER DAY, AND IN FACT A NEW YORK DEMOCRATIC OFFICIAL HERE IN THIS GREAT STATE OF NEW YORK HAD THE SAME FEELING.

WHILE I THINK HILLARY CLINTON CLEARLY WON THE ADEBATE ON POINTS, DID SHE MOVE THE NEEDLE I DON'T THINK TRUMP GAINED ANY BUT DIDN'T LOSE ANY.

YOU DOEBLT THINK HE BLEW IT?

WELL, LET ME PUT IT THIS WAY.

I DON'T THINK HE DID WHAT HE NEEDED TO WHICH IS TO CONVEY HE WAS COMPETENT, PRESIDENTIAL, TO REASSURE THE UNCERTAIN VOTERS THAT WHEN THEY GO INTO THE POLLING BOOTH THEY CAN PRESS THE BUTTON FOR DONALD.

I DON'T THINK HE DID THAT.

YOU SAID BEFORE THAT'S WHAT THE DONLDZ P HAD TO DO, LOOK PRESIDENTIAL.

AND YOU ALSO AGREED THAT CLINTON HAD TO BE LIKEABLE.

NEITHER ONE OF THEM ACCOMPLISHED?

NEITHER ONE OF THEM IN.

SHE GOT CLOSER THAN HE DID I THINK.

THE FIRST 20 I MINUTES I WOULD SAY 'TWAS PRETTY MUCH A DRAW.

THEY BOTH WERE ABLE TO PRESS THEIR POINTS, NEITHER ONE OF THEM SAID ANYTHING PARTICULARLY STUPID OR CONTRARY TO BRAND.

BUT AS THE DEBATE WENT ON, HE BEGAN TO FADE.

HE'D TALK ABOUT STAMINA.

HE WAS THE ONE WHO LOOKED LIKE HE WAS OUT OF HIS DEPTH.

HE WAS IRRITABLE.

HE WAS --

REVERTING BACK TO PRIMARIES.

IT WASN'T THAT IRONIC THAT THE HEALTH ISSUE BECAME HIS.

YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.

I CONTRASTED THIS WITH HER SUPPORTERS AFTER WHERE SHE WAS SHOUTING AND IT WAS THE KIND OF UNAPPEALING -- I THOUGHT IN THE DEBATE, THAT'S ABOUT AS GOOD AS GURING TO GET.

IF YOU DIDN'T LIKE THAT HILLARY, YOU'RE NEVER GOING TO LIKE HER.

GIVE US ONE OF YOUR MOST MEMORABLE MOMENTS FROM THE DEBATE.

WHAT I THOUGHT WAS ONE OF THE MOST MEMORABLE MOMENTS, I WAS REALLY SURPRISED BY THIS LITTLE MOMENT THAT HILLARY HAD WHERE SHE DID KIND OF A SHIMMY.

WE SAW THAT.

WHEN DONALD TRUMP HAD GIVEN SOME LONG, WINDING, TWISTING ANSWER I THINK IT WAS ON IRAN AND THEN TURNED TO HER LIKE, LESTER SAID, SECRETARY CLINTON, ARE YOU READY?

SHE'S LIKE, I'M READY.

THAT WAS A MOMENT OF SPONTANEITITY AND AN AUTHENTICITY THAT WE HAVEN'T SEEN FROM HILARY CLINTON VERY OFTEN.

THAT WAS MEMORABLE TO ME.

FLA THAT WAS A GOOD ONE.

BUT I DON'T -- I THINK HILLARY CAME ACROSS AS EFFECTIVE AND COMPETENT BUT SHE STILL DOESN'T HAVE THAT WARMTH.

THAT'S A GOOD ISSUE, BY THE WAY.

ONE MORE THING I'D LIKE TO POINT OUT, LAST NIGHT WE HEARD ABOUT HER FATHER FAR MORE THAN WE EVER HAVE.

I THINK THAT WAS CALCULATED TO THE WORKING CLASS MALES SHE'S BEEN DOING SO POORLY WITH.

EVERYTHING ABOUT POLITICAL PEOPLE AT THIS LEVEL IS CALCULATED.

THE WITH DONALD IS HE WASN'T CALCULATED.

I'LL TELL YOU THE MOMENT THAT GOT ME, WHICH YOU'RE RIGHT IT'S ALWAYS THOSE UNPLANNED, SPONTANEOUS BACK-AND-FORTH.

I THOUGHT THE EXCHANGE ON THE TAXES HE'D PAID.

SHE WAS LIKE, MAYBE IT WAS FOR THIS REASON, MAYBE IT WAS FOR THIS REASON, MAYBE YOU'RE A BAD GUY, MAYBE YOU'RE NOT CHARITABLE, SAYING, I BET YOU DIDN'T PAY ANY TAXES AT AWE.

HE DIDN'T DHAEN.

HE JUST SAID, I'M SMART.

THAT'S A TOUGH ONE.

THERE WAS SOMETHING ABOUT A LAWSUIT WHERE HE SAID IT WAS A VERY GOOD SETTLEMENT BECAUSE HE DIDN'T HAVE TO HAVE --

NO ADMISSION OF GUILT.

30 SECONDS LEFT.

WHAT DOES TRUMP HAVE TO DO TO GET BETTER?

DOES SHE HAVE TO DO ANYTHING?

YOU KNOW, DON'T MAKE THE MISTAKE I DID.

SOMETIMES IF YOU JUST PLAY VIDEO GAMES ALL NIGHT AND YOU DON'T CRAM FOR THE EXAM WHEN YOU SHOW UP THE NEXT MORNING YOU'RE NOTING TO BE AS GOOD.

FRY TO LEARN SOMETHING FOR GOD'S SAKE.

STUDY.

STUDY THE ISSUES BUT ALSO STUDY HER.

THAT GOES BACK TO THE MISSED OPPORTUNITIES.

I COULDN'T BELIEVE SHE WAS OWNING THE ISSUE OF CYBER SECURITY.

HER GREATEST WEAKNESS, HER GREATEST VULNERABILITY AND HE DIDN'T GO AFTER HER ON THAT.

YEAH HE'S GOING TO HAVE TO STUDY UP.

GUYS, THANKS SO MUCH.

THANK YOU.

> YESTERDAY'S PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE PROMISED TO BE A SHOWDOWN FOR THE AGES AND TO A LARGE EXTENT IT DELIVERED.

THE CANDIDATES MORE OR LESS LAID OUT THEIR PERSPECTIVE CASE AMID NUMEROUS INTERRUPTIONS AMID ONE OF THE CANDIDATES AND OCCASIONAL NAME CALLING.

DOES OUR DEBATE FORMAT NEED A FUND AMOUNTAL TRANSITION.

JOINING US WITH WHAT THE VIEWING PARTY THOUGHT AND WHAT FUTURE RESIDENTIAL DEBATES SHOULD LOOK LIKE IS JOHN DONMAN, ABC NEWS REPORTER.

JOHN, FOR THOSE WHO HAVEN'T SEEN YOU BEFORE, GIVE US A QUICK SUMMLY OF WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH, CHANGE.

IT'S TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH IT TO RAISE THE LEVEL OF CIVIL DISCOURSE BY MAKING MORE INTELLIGENT, FACT FILLED, LOGIC FILLED AND WHAT WE DO IS MOUNT DEBATES WE'VE NOW DONE MORE THAN 120 IN THE LAST 10 YEARS.

THIS IS OUR TENTH ANNIVERSARY WHERE WE EMPLOY THE OXFORD FORMAT, WHICH MEANS THE DEBATERS ACTUALLY HAVE TO GET UP AND PRESENT REAL ARGUMENTS.

THEY HAVE TO ACTUALLY PROVE SOMETHING.

AND WE DO THAT BY PUTTING A STATEMENT BEFORED AUDIENCE BEFORE THE DEBATERS THAT ONE SIDE HAS TO PROVE AND ONE SIDE HAS TO DISPROVE.

LET'S TURN TO LAST NIGHT'S DEBATE.

WHAT WAS YOUR TAKE ON IT?

YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN VERY CRITICAL OF THE PRESIDENTIAL DEBATES, OF THE THINGS CALLED THE PRESIDENTIAL DEBATES, THAT SEW-CALLED DEBATE BECAUSE THEY'RE REALLY INTERVIEWS XS THERE' AIST ASKING A QUESTION TO A PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE AND THEY HAVE BACK-AND-FORTH AND THECHB THE QUESTION IS PUT TO THE OTHER CANDIDATE, SOMETIMES NOT EVEN THE SAME QUESTIONS.

DEBATES ARE THE DEBATERS ARE INTERABLE ACTING WITH EACH OTHER.

I THINK WE GOT CLOSER TO THAT KIND OF IDEAL THAN WE HAVE IN AT LEAST 50 YEARS.

PARTICULARLY EARLY ON.

EARLY ON.

AND I GIVE LESTER HOLT A LOT OF CREDIT FOR CRAFTING QUESTIONS THAT ACTUALLY WERE IN A SENSE MOTIONS.

FIRST HE ALL HE PUT THE SAME QUESTION TO EACH DEBATER AND THE QUESTION WAS, HOW ARE YOU GOING TO CREATE JOBS?

SO THEY HAVE DIFFERENT VISIONS OF HOW TO CREATE JOBS AND AS A RESULT THEY PRESENTED THEIR DIFFERENT VISIONS AND THEY INTERACTED AND CHALLENGED EACH OTHER'S VISIONS AND ALSO ON THE QUESTION OF THE IMPACT OF TAXATION AND A TAX CUT.

THE DEBARRETTS ACTUALLY WENT AT THAT.

THERE WAS A WHILE WHEN LESTER HOLT DIDN'T STEP IN AND INTERRUPT THEMT.

HE DIDN'T HAVE TO.

THEY WERE DEBATING VERY, VERY SUFFICIENTLY THEMSELVES.

THAT HAPPENED EARLY ON.

BUT AS YOU IMPLY OR SAY, IT KIND OF DEVOLVED INTO THE USUAL THING.

YEAH.

VERY QUICKLY.

DID WE LEARN SOMETHING ABOUT THE CHARACTER OF THE CANDIDATES?

YES, YOU LEARNED SOMETHING ABOUT HOW EASY A CANDIDATE CAN BE DEBATED, WHAT MAKES A CANDIDATE LAUGH.

LITERALLY, YOU KNOW, HOW QUICKLY A CANDIDATE CAN THINK ON HIS OR HER FEET.

OR NOT.

OR NOT, YEAH.

THEY'RE NOT WITHOUT MERIT.

IT'S A SLUG FEST IN A SENSE, AND THERE'S AN ENTERTAINMENT VALUE TO THAT AND THERE'S INFORMATIONAL VALUE AS WELL.

BUT YOU DON'T REALLY LEARN HOW A CANDIDATE REALLY CAN THINK DEEPLY, WHAT A CANDIDATE WOULD ACTUALLY DO IN OFFICE, HOW THE PLAN HOLD UP.

YOU KNOW, AGAIN AND AGAIN DONALD TRUMP HAS BEEN PRESSED FOR THE DETAILS OF HIS PLANS AND HIS POSITION PARTICULARLY FOR ISIS.

IT'S A SECRET.

THAT'S NOT REALLY AN ANSWER.

YOU WANT TO KNOW, WHAT WOULD YOU DO, WITHOUT HAVING TO GIVE AWAY STATE SECRETS.

AND THAT DEBATE LAST NIGHT DIDN'T YIELD THAT.

IT ALLOWED TRUMP TO TAKE THAT POSITION.

HE STATED TWO OR THREE TIMES, I'M NOT GOING TO STATE IT LIKE I'M NOT RELEASING MY TAX RETURNS OND MOVED ON.

YOU DIDN'T GET TO KNOW HOW GOOD HIS PLAN IS.

CLINTON THE SAME THING.

SHE REALLY GOT AWAY WITH A LOT OF ASSERTIONS AS OPPOSED TO DETAIL ARGUMENTATION BECAUSE THERE WAS NO SETUP FOR ARGUMENTATION.

LET'S TALK ABOUT THE VIEWING PARTY.

WHY DID YOU PART THAT TOGETHER?

HERE IN NEW YORK CITY WE HAVE A PRETTY LOYAL AN GROWING FOLLOWING WHO BELIEVE IN WHAT WE'RE DOING.

INTELLIGENCE SQUARED, WE SELL OUT OUR DEBATES ALMOST MONTHLY WE PUT THEM ON.

AND WE SAID, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A COMMUNITY FORMING OF PEOPLE WHO WANT THIS KIND OF THING TO SPREAD.

SO WE SAID, LET'S -- THIS IS A BIG SO-CALLED DEBATE MOMENT.

LET'S GATHER AND WATCH IT TOGETHER SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO SIT ALONE AND WATCH IT AT HOME.

IN FACT, WE HAD ABOUT 80 PEOPLE AT LINCOLN CENTER, AND IN THE FILM SOCIETY THEATER, VERY COZY PLACE.

WE WATCHED THE DEBATES, TALKED ABOUT IT BEFOREHAND.

PEOPLE VOTED DURING THE DEBATE ON WHO THEY THOUGHT WON.

DID THEY VOTE AHEAD OF TIME AND THEN AT THE END?

HOW VOTE AHEAD OF TIME.

WE ASKED THEM A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS, WHO WILL YOU VOTE FOR?

WHO ARE YOU PLANNING TO VOTE FOR?

AND THEN AFTER THE DEBATE, WE SAID, WHO ARE YOU PLANNING TO VOTE FOR?

AND THERE WAS VIRTUALLY NO EXCHANGE.

THE AUDIENCE WAS OVERWHELMINGLY PRO-CLINTON, 85%, AND AT THE END IT WAS 86%. TRUMP HAD 5% AND HE KEPT 5%. SO, YOU KNOW, THAT'S THE THING ABOUT OUR DEBT DEBATES, PEOPLE REALLY TRULY SAYING, I CHANGED MY MIND BECAUSE I NEVER HEARD THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ARGUMENT BEFORE.

WE GET THAT ALL THE TIME.

I DIDN'T THINK I COULD BE MOVED BUT I NEVER HEARD THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ARGUMENT.

LAST NIGHT WE HEARD TRUMP AND HILARY GO UP AND NOBODY'S MINDS WERE ADVANCED PF HOW DID THE VIEWING PARTY ADVANCE THE IDEA OF A MORE CIVIL, OXFORDIAN DEBATE?

WE HAVE A GROUP OF PEOPLE WHO BELIEVE IN WHAT WE THINK.

WE BONDED.

WE WERE SOMEWHAT CRITICAL OF WHAT WE SAW ON SCREEN THOUGH WE CERTAINLY ENJOYED IT.

AND WE FOUND MORE PEOPLE TO PROSELYTIZE FOR THE SAUZ OF WHAT WE CALL REAL DEBATE.

SO WHAT ELSE ARE YOU DOING?

WHAT ELSE IS INTELLIGENCE SQUARED DOING IN ORDER TO ADVANCE THE CAUSE OF MORE CIVIL --

WE GO AROUND THE COUNTRY.

WE'VE DONE DEBATES AT A LOT OF LOCATIONS.

WE SPREAD THE WORD THAT WAY.

WE'VE BEEN DOING DEBATES IN BOSTON, CALIFORNIA, LOS ANGELES, WE'VE BEEN IN CHICAGO, ASPEN.

WE'VE BEEN IN PHILADELPHIA.

AND THE OTHER THING IS, WE HAVE A VERY GOOD CONNECTION WITH SCHOOLS.

THERE ARE A LOT OF SCHOOLS AROUND THE COUNTRY THAT NOW USE OUR DEBATES AS PART OF THEIR CURRICULUM, AND IT'S -- RESEARCH REALLY SHOWS THAT AND IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT'S PRACTICED A LOT IN THE AMERICAN EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM BUT DEBATE REALLY WORKS TO DEVELOP CRITICAL THINKING SKILLS.

IT'S PART OF EDUCATION, FOR EXAMPLE, IN THE UK AND NOT HERE.

SO WE'RE PUTTING THAT MESSAGE OUT AS WELL.

WE BRING STUDENTS LARGE STUDENT GROUPS COME INTO OUR DEBATES IN NEW YORK AND OTHER PLACES.

THAT'S -- YOU KNOW, STARTING YOUNG IN OTHER WORDS.

DOES INTELLIGENCE SQUARED HAVE ANY POSITION ABOUT WHO SHOULD PARTICIPATE IN PRESIDENTIAL DEBATES, THE DEBATE ABOUT WHETHER THE TWO OTHER CANDIDATES, THE LIBERTARIAN, GREEN PARTY, SHOULD BE PART OF THE DEBATE?

WE DON'T -- WE HAVEN'T TAKEN A POSITIONS ON THAT.

FRANKLY, OUR DEBATES ARE BINARY, YES/NO.

TO WORK A THIRD CANDIDATE INTO THAT WOULD REQUIRE RETHINKING AND RETOOLING THE FORMAT.

AND WE'VE NEVER DONE IT.

WE'VE NEVER DONE A THREE-WAY DEBATE SO FAR.

SO WHAT'S THE REALISTIC POSSIBILITY THAT IN 2020 WE WILL SEE OXFORDIAN DEBATES --

REALLY, REALLY SMALL.

REALLY SMALL.

THE REASON FOR THAT,THERE ARE PEOPLE ON THE PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE COMMISSION AND I TALKED TO SOME OF THEM WHO ARE VERY AWARE OF WHAT WE'RE DOG.

WE MADE THEM AWARE THIS YEAR.

AND THEY ADMIRE IT I THINK IN FACT THE DEBATE BETWEEN TRUMP AND CLINTON ACTUALLY IN A WAY WAS STRUCTURED TO BE THREE THEME ATTIC DEBATES WHICH COMES CLOSER TO WHAT WE'RE DOING.

BUT THE REALITY IS THAT THE CANDIDATES THEMSELVES DON'T WANT TO CHANGE THE SYSTEM, AND THEY CAN WALK AWAY AND CANDIDATES HAVE WALKED AWAY FROM DEBATE NLTSZ PAST.

WHY DO THEY LIKE THE SYSTEM?

BECAUSE THEY GET TOO HAVE BITE-SIZED MEMORIZED ANSWERS.

THEY GET TO PREPARE -- WELL, TRUMP REALLY WAS WINGING IT, BUT CLINTON DID THE MORE TRADITIONAL THING WITH MEMORIZING ANSWERS AND CUTE LINES LIKE TRUMPUP TRICKLE-DOWN, YOU KNOW.

WELL, JOHN, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

A PLEASURE, THANK YOU.

A HISTORIC NIGHT FOR HOFSTRA BECOMING THE FIRST UNIVERSITY TO HOST THREE CONSECUTIVE PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE.

THE SPOTLIGHT CASTED ON THAT CAMPUS GREAT THAN EVER BEFORE WITH MORE THAN 100 MILLION VIEWERS TUNING INTO THE EVENT.

WE'VE BEEN PARTNERING WITH THE UNIVERSITY LEADING UP TO THE DEBATE AND WE WERE ON THE GROUND TO HEAR WHAT STUDENTS HAD TO SAY LAST NIGHT ABOUT THE EXPECT I KELL.

DONALD IS ABLE TO THINK QUICK BECAUSE HE'S A BUSINESSMAN.

HE CAN USE HIS OWN WORDS THAT THE PUBLIC CAN RELATE TO, BUT HILLARY IS USING VERY POLITICAL WORD THAT'S NOT MANY PEOPLE CAN RELATE TO.

CLINTON WAS VERY CALM WITH HER RESPONSES AND HER DELIVERY, WHICH I DO AGREE.

THEN TRUMP IS JUST INTERJECTING BUT HE IS APPLYING HIS BELIEF, HIS BUSINESS PRACTICES THOSE KIND OF THINGS TO HIS RESPONSES.

I THINK THAT HILLARY WAS A LOT MORE RESPECTFUL.

I THINK SHE CRUSHED HIM HONESTLY, AND SHE HAS MY VOTE AFTER THIS.

I KNOW FOR ME I FEEL LIKE HILLARY IS SAYING A LOT OF WHAT SHE WANTS TO DO, BUT SHE'S NOT XMRAIRNING HOW.

SHE JUST CAN'T MAKE BROAD STATEMENTS WITHOUT BACKING THEM UP.

I'M VERY ADAMANT ABOUT THE POLICE BRUTALITY AND RACIAL TENSION ISSUES THAT ARE GOING ON IN THIS COUNTRY SO I THINK THAT EVERYTHING THAT HILLARY CLINT BE IS STAYING AT THE MOMENT DOESN'T REALLY ADD UP.

SO I THINK THAT'S A HUGE ISSUE.

BEING A PRE-DENTAL MAJOR I'M GOING TO BE IN COLLEGE FOR THE NEXT 10 TO 12 YEARS.

I'M BIG ON THE WHOLE DECREASING THE AMOUNT OF COLLEGE DEBT.

I FEEL THAT NEITHER CANDIDATE REALLY HAS A TRUE PLAN ON DECREASING COLLEGE DEBT.

I'M CURRENTLY UNDECIDED.

I FEEL STRONGLY ABOUT VOTING FOR TRUMP.

I'M UNDECIDED.

I JUST DON'T THINK I'M GOING TO VOTE FOR HILLARY.

I THOUGHT THE DEBATE WAS A EXPECT AKELL HONESTLY THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE PRESIDENTIAL RACE.

I THINK IT'S AN INSULT TO OUR INTELLIGENCE, INSULT TO DEMOCRACY.

SOMETHING IS VERY WRONG P THIS SYSTEM.

THE AMERICAN PEOPLE DON'T WANT THESE TWO CANDIDATES YET THIS IS THE ONLY CHOICE WE'VE BEEN LEFT WITH.

I'M PLEASED TO BE JOINED B TWO HOFSTRA STUDENTS.

MEGAN, MICHAEL, GREAT TO HAVE YOU ON THE SHOW.

MEGAN, LET ME START WITH YOU.

AS THE DUST SETTLES AFTER LAST NIGHT'S DEBATE, THE VARIOUS SATELLITE TRUCKS AND VARIOUS TELEVISION NETWORKS DEPART THE CAMPUS, WHAT'S THE MOOD ON HOFSTRA UNIVERSITY'S CAMPUS?

WAS THERE A SENSE THERE WAS A DEBATE OF SUBSTANCE HELD LAST NIGHT?

I THINK RIGHT NOW -- EARLY MORNING IT WAS QUITE A EXPECT I KELL OVER THE WEEKEND.

FRIDAY WHEN THE MEDIA TRUCKS MOVED IN AND EVERYBODY STARTED BROADCASTING FROM OUR UNIVERSITY, THAT'S WHT ENERGY PICKED UP AND THE CLIMAX WAS LAST NIGHT.

I THINK EVERYBODY NOW'S MOOD ON THE CAMPUS IS OVERWHELM PD AND TIRED.

IN MY OPINION, I THINK YOU COULD DEFINITELY TELL THAT SOMETHING HISTORIC AND SOMETHING BIG HAPPENED ON OUR UNIVERSITY LAST NIGHT.

AND I THINK IT WAS JUST A JOY TO BE ABLE TO COVER IT.

IT WAS A JOY TO BE ABLE TO WITNESS HISTORY, WITNESS EVERYTHING THAT WENT ON WITH IT.

AND I THINK OUR STUDENTS ARE PROUD.

I THINK THERE IS A SENSE OF PRIDE GOING THROUGHOUT OUR CAMPUS, A LITTLE PUN ON OUR HOFSTRA PRIDE THERE.

BUT I THINK THERE'S JUST A SENSE OF KIND OF LIKE I SAID, A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE OVERWHELMED BUT AT THE SAME TIME A LOT ARE STILL ON CLOUD 9 THAT THIS JUST HAPPENED AND THEY WERE ABLE TO TAKE PART IN SOMETHING SO HISTORIC.

I WOULD ABSOLUTELY AGREE.

WHEN I WALKED OUT MY DORM IT FELT LIKE THE DUST WAS SETTLING, WE WERE COMING DOWN OFF OF A HIGH.

THIS WAS AN EXPERIENCE OF A LIFETIME.

MANY PEOPLE HERE WHR NOT HERE FOR THE DEBATE IN 2012.

THIS WAS THEIR FIRST PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE, A LOT OF PEOPLE IT'S THEIR FIRST TIME BEING ABLE TO VOTE.

IT WAS HISTORIC WHEN ALL THE NETWORKS CAME IN, IT CERTAINLY RAISED THE ENERGY AND RAISED THE EXCITEMENT AND YOU COULD FEEL THAT.

YOU STILL FEEL IT ON CAMPUS.

IT WAS INTERESTING BECAUSE WHEN I WAS WALKING INTO THE STUDIO THIS MORNING, YOU COULD HEAR PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT WHAT TRUMP'd AND THE CLASSIC LINE THAT'S HILLARY CLINTON SAID LAST NIGHT.

THE TRUMP-UP TRICKLE-DOWN THEORY.

AND YOU COULD HEAR PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT IT, HOW SHE FELT AND HOW HE FELT.

YOU COULD SEE THAT STUDENTS WERE REALLY ENGAGED AND THEY REALLY PAID ATTENTION LAST NIGHT.

AND I JUST THOUGHT THAT THAT WAS GREAT.

YOU HAVE A CAMPUS THAT WAS ALREADY INFORMED BUT HAS BECOME EVEN MORE INFORMED.

IT WAS AN AWESOME OPPORTUNITY.

MIKE WILL, YOU MENTIONED THE WORD 'EGAUGED.'

THERE.

THE OTHER WORD THAT WE HEARD FROM THE STUDENTS LAST NIGHT WAS 'UNDECIDED' DESPITE THE DEBATE LAST NIGHT.

STILL A HUGE PROPORTION OF THE STUDENTS THERE ON THE CAMPUS UNDECIDED.

FAIR TO SAY THERE'S STILL A SIGNIFICANT POPULATION ON HOFSTRA CAMPUS WHO COULD BE SWAYED EITHER WAY, EVEN THOUGH WE'RE JUST WEEKS OUT UNTIL ELECTION DAY?

I WOULD SAY SO.

I DO BELIEVE PEOPLE ARE STILL UNDECIDED.

I DON'T THINK PEOPLE WALKED AWAY FROM THAT DEBATE SAY, I'M LEAVELY TROELTED FOR HILLARY OR TRUMP BECAUSE I THINK MA MELLIALS WANT A DEBATE LAST NIGHT FILLED WITH SUBSTANCE AND FILLED WITH THE ISSUES.

I THINK WHEN YOU GO BEYOND THIS ENTIRE ELECTION PERIOD, AFTER WE ELECT A PRESIDENT WHAT WE HAVE TO DO AS A PRESIDENT FOR FOUR YEARS.

MILLENNIALS REALLY WANT TO TALK ABOUT STUDENT DEBT, WHICH I DON'T FEEL LIKE WE HEARD A LOT ABOUT LAST NIGHT.

I WAS GOING TO SADE THE ISSUE OF STUDENT DEBT DIDN'T COME OUT.

YOU SAID LAST WEEK THAT'S THE NUMBER ONE ISSUE YOU STUDENTS WANTED TO HEAR.

YET BAILEY MENTIONED LAST NIGHT.

THAT WAS ONE OF THE BIGGEST THINGS I WANTED TO HEAR AND I WAS WATCHING THAT DEBATE LAST NIGHT.

I WAS RUNNING AROUND COVERING IT AT THAT POINT WATCH PARTIES, BUT JUST AN HOUR AND A HALF TO SIT DOWN AND WATCH THE DEBATE FOR MYSELF, I WAS A LITTLE SURPRISED.

I SAID I WANTED MORE SUBSTANCE.

I WANTED MORE POLICY.

AND I GOT MORE MUDSLINGING THAN I EXPECTED.

BUT ALSO WHAT I REALIZED WAS THIS IS NOW THE FIRST TIME THAT HILARY CLINTON AND DONALD TRUMP WERE ON THE STAGE TOGETHER AND I GOT TO SEE WHAT IT'S LIKE FOR SOMEONE WHO HAS HAD THIS DEBATE EXPERIENCE BEFORE MORE THAN DONALD TRUMP.

I GUESS SOMEONE WHO HAS KIND OF BEEN A MORE BUSINESS-LIKE APPROACH TO IT.

YOU COULD DEFINITELY TELL THAT I THINK COMING AWAY AND YOU ALSO HEARD FROM STUDENTS THAT IT SEEMED AS IF HILLARY CLINTON WAS MORE PREPARED GOING INTO THIS DEBATE.

SHE DID -- YOU COULD TELL JUST THE WAY SHE WAS ON THAT STAGE, THE WAY SHE WAS ABLE TO HOLD HERSELF AGAINST SOMEONE LIKE DONALD TRUMP WHO HAS BEEN RECORDED SAYING HE DID NOT PREPARE PROBABLY AS MUCH AS HILLARY DID AND TOOK TIME OFF FROM PREPARING FOR THE DEBATE.

I THINK THAT COULD DEFINITELY COULD BE A TELLTALE SIGN FROM WATCHING LAST NIGHT.

I AGREE WITH MICHAEL.

I THINK FROM WHAT I HEARD A LOT OF STUDENTS ARE STILL UNDECIDED ABOUT WHAT THEY WANT ABOUT WHO THEY WILL BE VOTING FOR.

A LOT OF THEM I THINK HAD HIGHER EXPECTATIONS FOR THE DEBATE ITSELF OF WHAT THEY WANTED TO HEAR FROM THESE CANDIDATES AND I THINK NO ONE REALLY CAME OUT LIKE MICHAEL SAID FULL FORCE FOR SOMEONE.

BUT THEY DEFINITELY -- I DON'T THINK THEY WERE AS SATISFIED AS THEY WANTED TO BE.

I DON'T THINK THOSE EXPECTATIONS WERE FULLY MET FROM THE CANDIDATES.

BUT NOT EVEN FROM THE CANDIDATES, I THINK SOME OF IT FROM LESTER HOLT AS WELL.

THE MODERATOR I THINK SOME OF THE TIME HE COULD HAVE KIND OF PUSHED IN MORE, KIND OF FACT-CHECKED MORE AND HE DEFINITELY -- MAYBE THAT'S BECAUSE A LOT OF STUDENTS DON'T XAKTLY KNOW THE DEBATE FORMAT, THE DISCUSSION AND REBUTTAL.

LET ME STEP IN THERE.

YOU TALKED THERE SO MUCH ABOUT THE DISSATISFACTION.

WITH THAT DISSATISFACTION, BY NOT ADDRESSING THE ISSUES, ARE WE AT RISK OF HAVING MILLENNIALS SITTING OUT THIS ELECTION?

I THINK SO.

I THINK SO.

I THINK WE REALLY HAVE TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS THE SECOND PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE, WE'RE LOOKING AT A VICE PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE AND THE THIRD AND FINAL PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE.

I THINK WE STILL HAVE SOME TIME, BUT IT'S SEPTEMBER AND THE ELECTION IS IN NOVEMBER.

SO IS THERE A POTENTIAL THAT YOU COULD HAVE A LOT OF MILLENNIALS SIT THIS ONE OUT, I THINK SO.

I REALLY THINK SO.

I THINK WE REALLY STILL NEED TO HEAR FROM THE CANDIDATES ON THE MILLENNIAL PERSPECTIVE, WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO TO CHANGE THIS COUNTRY AND TO PUT US IN A PLACE WHERE WE REALLY WANT TO BE?

WHO IS THE CANDIDATE THAT REPRESENTS NOT ONLY WHERE WE ARE BUT WHERE WE WANT TO GO AND WHERE WE WANT TO BE?

BOTH OF YOU HAVE BEEN INVALUABLE FOR OUR COVERAGE.

I CAN'T THANK YOU ENOUGH.

MICHAEL, MEGAN, BOTH HOFSTRA UNIVERSITY STUDENTS, JOURNALISTS WITH DEBATE TV, THAT SHOW AIRS ON HOFSTRA UNIVERSITY TELEVISION STATION.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

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> IN 2012.