Trump, Clinton lock horns on taxes, email controversy

***** Clinton, Trump spar over plans for US economy

Hillary Clinton accused Donald Trump of peddling “trumped up trickle down” economics Monday on the presidential debate stage, as the candidates clashed in fiery exchanges over how to create American jobs.

“I will bring back jobs. You can’t bring back jobs,” Trump fired at Clinton, as the pair tangled over trade, taxes and government regulations in the opening half of their 90-minute debate.

“I know you live in your own reality, but those are not the facts,” Clinton said, after Trump took her to task over her support of the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal.

“The kind of plan that Donald has put forth would be trickle-down economics all over again. In fact, it would be the most extreme version, the biggest tax cuts for the top percent of the people in this country than we’ve ever had. I call it trumped up trickle-down,” Clinton added.

“That is not how we grow the economy,” said the former secretary of state.

The sparring grew intense at times as the candidates interrupted and talked over one another.

“Typical politician. All talk, no action. Sounds good, doesn’t work. Never going to happen,” Trump fumed, as he argued that his extensive business experience is what America needs to improve its economy.

“Our jobs are fleeing the country. They’re going to Mexico, they’re going to many other countries. You look at what China is doing to our country,” he added. “They’re devaluing their currency and there’s nobody in our government to fight them.”

But when Trump highlighted his business acumen as a qualifying rationale for electing him president, Clinton jumped in, assailing the provocative billionaire for failing to pay some contractors for their work.

“Do the thousands of people that you have stiffed over the course of your business not deserve some kind of apology from someone who has taken their labor, taken the goods that they produced, and then refused to pay them?” Clinton asked.

*****

Clinton, Trump kick off high-stakes debate

Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump came out swinging in a crunch US presidential debate Monday, with the Republican and Democrat aggressively pitching their case to tens of millions of viewers.

Clinton hit her rival as coming from a “very fortunate” background and called on voters to judge them both on the basis of “who can shoulder the immense, awesome responsibilities of the presidency.”

Trump ditched his red power tie for a more statesmanlike blue and took on a restrained tone, but reprised the themes that have catalyzed his improbable campaign, insisting jobs were being lost to Mexico and China.

“We have to renegotiate our trade deals and we have to stop these countries from stealing our companies and our jobs,” he said, saying Clinton had decades without making lives better for ordinary Americans.

Clinton hit back, accusing Trump’s economic platform of amounting to “the most extreme” package of tax cuts for the wealthy in US history.

“I call it trumped up trickle-down, because that’s exactly what it would be,” she quipped.

This first 2016 presidential debate could be pivotal in deciding whether Clinton will become the first woman president, or if Trump can pull off the greatest upset in US political history.

Super Bowl of politics 

When the celebrity businessman launched his campaign in June 2015, bookmakers put his odds at 100/1 and he was roundly mocked.

But the 70-year-old weathered allegations of bigotry and sexism to triumph in a vicious Republican primary campaign.

He now has a real shot at being sworn in as the 45th president of the United States on January 20.

Six weeks out from election day the polls have tightened to a virtual dead heat.

Clinton — the 68-year-old former secretary of state, first lady and US senator — is perhaps the most qualified presidential candidate since George Bush senior, Dwight Eisenhower or Ulysses Grant.

She has a massive organizational advantage, a bigger campaign warchest, a lead in the popular vote and is in a notably stronger position state-by-state.

But she remains deeply unpopular. In a country split 50/50 between Democrats and Republicans, only 40 percent of voters say they have a favorable view of her.

Polling group Gallup reports that 69 percent of US adults are sure they will vote, down from 76 percent in 2012.

In the last two presidential elections, young, black, Hispanic and Asian-American voters turned out in record numbers for Barack Obama.

Clinton’s campaign has struggled so far to match that level of enthusiasm.

Only 47 percent of voters aged 18 to 34 say they will definitely vote this time round, that is down from 74 percent when Obama was first elected.

This Super Bowl of politics is taking place at Hofstra University on Long Island, a mere 60-minute drive from Manhattan and chaired by NBC Nightly News anchor Lester Holt.

The questions will revolve around three themes: “America’s direction, achieving prosperity, and securing America.”

Watching from the venue were Melania Trump and Bill Clinton, two spouses who have made their impact felt on during the campaign.

Double standard? 

Monday’s target will be the estimated nine percent of American voters who are still undecided. Can the Democrat win their minds, if not their hearts? Can Trump persuade them that he has the gravitas to lead?

If Trump remains disciplined and focuses on issues, he could earn credibility among college-educated whites.

Clinton will no doubt aim to seize on Trump’s toxic campaign trail rhetoric, using his words to paint her rival as a divisive demagogue.

But she may struggle to meet expectations. A Quinnipiac poll found that voters expect Clinton to win the debate 41 to 32 percent, and that 84 percent said they intend to watch.

Clinton’s campaign has expressed concerns of being held to a double standard, saying the bar is higher for her while Trump stood to win praise for a merely adequate performance.

Usually first presidential debates expose a candidate to a public beyond their home state or the Washington political bubble. But like much else in the 2016 race, that is not the case this year.

The names of both candidates were recognized by almost 100 percent of the adult population, even before the debate.