The Consensus is That Donald Trump Choked – Will He Stop Debating?



Donald Trump choked in the first Presidential debate last night.

That was the broad media consensus on Tuesday morning, with scientific polls showing a strong lead for Hillary Clinton. The markets also reacted to a Clinton win. Commentators from left and right, including Fox News and The Weekly Standard, decided that Trump lost, while even his most ardent online supporters acknowledged it was not the Republican nominee’s night. Clinton did not have it all her own way, with a majority noting that Trump started strong but then lost his temper as Clinton started attacking. He scored poorly with Frank Luntz’s focus group, who wound up awarding the debate to Clinton 16-3.

Focus groups and polls:

Frank Luntz: “Who won tonite’s debate? In my focus group, 6 people said Trump and 16 said Clinton.”

CNN: “Post-debate poll: Hillary takes round one”  (ORC poll: 62-27 Clinton) (CNN acknowledged an oversampling of Democrats)

PPP Poll (leans Dem) 51-40 Clinton

Trump surrogates online:

John Nolte: “Trump blew a number of opportunities. Too defensive. Explained too much. Should’ve ignored bait. Hit her on Benghazi, server, etc.”

Mike Cernovich: ‘Hillary won the debate on points’ = “Reasonable assessment”

Daniel Braban: “Trump lost badly. We have to be honest.”

Bill Mitchell: “It’s not who wins the debate… it’s who wins the week after the debate.”

Rudy Giuliani (OUCH):

The biggest media channels, including Fox News’ opinion, all agreed that Trump blew it. Fox did not publish any pieces saying Trump won:

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Fox News: Hillary won the first debate (opinion)

Fox News: Trump struggles, Hillary clings to facts and figures (Opinion)

Meanwhile, Trump’s constant and annoying sniffing prompted former Democratic candidate Howard Dean, famously defeated in the primary after a scream, to suggest Trump was doing cocaine.

Markets:

Multiple sources, including Market Watch and Bloomberg, reported that the markets said Clinton won:

Betting Odds:

Also said Clinton won:

This was a genuine consensus. Trump choked, even among his own surrogates and supporters. Having cheered Nate Silver’s analysis that showed Trump taking the lead before the debate for the first time ever, Trump boosters won’t enjoy the great sage’s verdict on his night as Choker Donald:

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