As if a sudden upsurge in domestic and internatioinal issues – tense race issues, Syrian regime’s killing campaigns in Aleppo, refugees, and conflicts elsewhere – were not enough to fill the first presidential debate on Monday, Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump will also appear for the showdown almost virtually tied in polls.
The Washington Post/ABC News poll released Sunday shows the two candidates locked in a dead heat among registered voters, with each enjoying 41 percent support.
The situation represents a scenario which is a far cry from what Clinton would have expected.
Yet, as former first lady, senator and secretary of state, she has some obvious advantages over Trump.
Trump, on other hand, will also need to be uncharacteristically smart if he is to widen his support base.
His baggage include irresponsible vilification of Latino and Muslim communities as well as distrust with African Americans.
One test that Trump faces on Monday would be how soon, how often and how far he goes off script and adopt his freewheeling style of the primaries during the long 90 minutes he will share with Clinton.
But one thing appears certain that Trump would go after Hillary Clinton on issues like private email server and continuation of the Obama White House policies.
For Clinton the challenge seems to be how to present Trump as a nightmare for America. Another stiff test for her would be to echo a brief and appealing message to American voters.
Then there is the sensitive question of relations between Police and African American communities.
The latest poll will be on Clinton’s mind, who had previously led Trump by almost 6 to 8 points at one point.
In September, the former secretary of state was ahead by 5 points in the same poll andd by 8 percent in early August.
The debate will take place at Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York, on Monday.
A record number of voters and viewers including around 80 percent registered voters are expected to watch the debate.
The polls says Clinton holds a higher chance of victory in the debate with 44 percent expecting her to win, compared to Trump’s 34 percent. But it is the performance during the 90 minutes that could be a make-or-break factor in the two candidates’s prospects for the November 8 election.
