Monday’s debate saw Hillary Clinton become the speaker many Democrats have hoped she would. She dominated the conversation, sounding presidential, prepared, and even funny. Although at times a bit robotic, she hit all her points. By the end of the night, she stood firmly in the winner’s circle. Even by the new, Trump-ified standards of politics, Clinton won Monday’s debate—CNN polls had her carrying the day by nearly 40 percent while other sources had her with a more modest but still firm victory. Clinton supporters should be proud of their candidate’s performance; she delivered in an important moment.
That being said, democrats also need to approach Monday’s results circumspectly. While it’s true Clinton appeared dignified and thoughtful, winning the debate doesn’t necessary mean she won the battle over undecided voters. The truth is, aside from her strongest supporters, Americans didn’t tune in to Monday’s spectacle to watch Clinton. While Hillary deftly exposed her opponents inconsistencies, the nation barely paid attention. All eyes and ears were fixated on The Celebrity Apprentice: Presidential Debate Edition.
Sure, Donald Trump’s performance was by all usual measures appalling. Sure, at times he spoke incoherently enough to bring his sobriety into question. And sure, he lied with the impunity of a man caught cheating on his wife. But he demonstrated the one quality that has legitimized his candidacy time after time—being extremely fun to watch. For almost the entirety of the debate, it was impossible not to glance over from Clinton’s lecture to Trump’s over-the-top faces and frequent outbursts. Even at her best, Clinton simply isn’t as entertaining as he is.
In an election that many have dubbed as “Hillary’s to lose,” Monday’s debate made apparent that she has almost no control over her electoral destiny. After all, the American people are unlikely to remember her performances. For good or for bad, Monday’s lasting impressions will be of Trump—be they his poor effort to handle the “birther” controversy or his assertion that he’s “smart” for not paying taxes.
Monday’s real winner, and likely the winner of this entire election cycle, will be determined by how Americans react to the Republican’s reality star. Clinton appearing the more informed and intelligent candidate might very well rally her base. In terms of swaying voters, however, Trump will wins if Americans decide he didn’t exceed the limit of mistakes tolerable on a given night. The irony in all this is that Clinton’s strong showing barely influenced the result. When she did shape the outcome it was indirectly, getting under Trump’s skin and tempting him to mess up.
Looking forward, Clinton’s supporters must keep in mind that the rules of the game have changed. Hillary won the war of words, but in this day and age, the war of words is different from the fight to sway voters. Even though she was quite effective at differentiating herself from her opponent, both in terms of character and experience, her success is unlikely to be one of the night’s primary take-aways. Especially in the face of unforgettable claims like Trumps quip that not paying taxes make him “smart. Furthermore, as painful as it might be for Clinton’s supporters to hear, Hillary won’t able to use the debate stage to shake her unlikable reputation. She can barely command the American peoples attention, let alone sway their hearts.
Ultimately, Clinton has fallen into the same trap as so many of Trump’s adversaries: her substance has been blurred by his sensationalism. She may have won Monday’s debate, but it is as likely as not that will translate into electoral momentum. Incorrect pundits are perhaps the only certainty in the aftermath of this debate; where Trump is concerned, everything is uncharted water.