It’s was round 2 in the debates between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton. The gloves were off and each side scored some points, but was it enough to win the match?
Trump came into the debate reeling from Fridays released audio of vulgar remarks he made during a conversation with TV host Billy Bush. The issue came up last night when Clinton referred to Trump’s 2005 comments, saying Trump’s words were who he really was. Trump fended off the question claiming Bill Clinton’s actions were far worse than his words.
It got ugly after that, although the debate ended on a high note, when each was asked by a town hall attendee to mention something they “respect” in each other.
USAToday: Clinton called it “very fair and important” question and cited Trump’s children.
“I respect his children,” she said. “His children are incredibly able and devoted, and I think that says a lot about Donald.”
Trump said that was a “very nice compliment” and offered up one of his own.
“She doesn’t quit,” he said. “She doesn’t give up, I respect that.”
“She’s a fighter,” he added, before noting he disagreed “with much of what she’s fighting for.”
Fox News: Trump hammers Clinton on emails, downplays lewd remarks in raucous 2nd debate
An aggressive Donald Trump, seeking to stabilize his campaign after the release of a decade-old tape where he made lewd comments about women, assailed Hillary Clinton’s honesty and character in an unprecedented way at Sunday’s debate – accusing her of lying about her email scandal, threatening she’d be “in jail” if he were president and suggesting his own comments pale in comparison to her husband’s alleged abuse of women and her treatment of them.
The Hill: Trump: Bill Clinton’s actions ‘far worse’ than my words
Donald Trump may have done just enough in Sunday’s presidential debate to keep his leaky presidential campaign afloat – and that may have put Republicans considering abandoning him in an even tougher position.
Had Trump imploded, the flow of lawmakers and party luminaries who deserted him at the weekend over lewd comments he made about women on a videotape likely would have become a torrent, increasing demands for him to drop out of the race.
Polls from RealClearPolitics
| Election 2016 | Clinton | Trump | Spread |
|---|---|---|---|
| RCP Poll Average | 47.5 | 42.9 | Clinton +4.6 |
| 4-Way RCP Average | 44.3 | 40.6 | Clinton +3.7 |
| Favorability Ratings | -9.2 | -21.2 | Clinton +12.0 |
| Live Betting Odds | 81.0 | 19.0 |
| Electoral College | Clinton | Trump | Spread |
|---|---|---|---|
| RCP Electoral Map | 260 | 165 | Clinton +95 |
| No Toss Up States | 340 | 198 |
Battlegrounds   |
Clinton | Trump | Spread |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wisconsin | 45.3 | 39.0 | Clinton +6.3 |
| Minnesota | 44.3 | 40.0 | Clinton +4.3 |
| Michigan | 44.3 | 37.3 | Clinton +7.0 |
| Colorado | 44.3 | 37.0 | Clinton +7.3 |
| Virginia | 44.0 | 37.0 | Clinton +7.0 |
| Maine | 40.8 | 37.0 | Clinton +3.8 |
| Arizona | 41.0 | 42.0 | Trump +1.0 |
