How will Trump do in the first debate?

[AGA]

Since Trump is not an experienced politician and does not spend much time preparing for debates, many people expect Trump do poorly in the first general election debate on September 26 against Hillary Clinton, and possibly against Gary Johnson as well. However, Trump was said to have won many of the Republican primary debates. How will Trump do in the first general election debate compared to expectations?

[Lyin' Steve]

As the media will constantly remind us starting in September, it's all about "the expectations game" and "zingers."  Hard to see Hillary beating Trump at that.

[For Trump, everything. For immigrants, the law]

It depends on whose "expectations" we're talking about here...

[heatcharger]

Johnson won't make it to 15%. Trump will be down in the polls about 6-10 points by the first debate. Media will try to say he's gotten his act together. Without reactions from the audience and anyone else on the stage, 15 minutes in and he'll devolve into ad hominem attacks on Hillary and will make an ass of himself. Might not happen exactly that way but there's a 50% chance he'll bring up Monica Lewinsky.

He'll tweet out late that night, "The dishonest media trying to make me look like a bad guy. Bill is the nasty one and Crooked Hillary's an enabler. Sad!" He'll go down a few points in the polls and then skip the next debate.

[ProudModerate2]

The one-on-one debates put on by The Commission on Presidential Debates is a serious forum.
trump will drift from talking about the true issues and problems with our nation.
He will look like a clown and un-presidential to the undecided and independents.

PS: Johnson will not be invited. (Will not qualify.)

[Wrong about 2024 Ghost]

If the coward even shows up, he'll be doing "better than expected".

[Higgs]

The expectations are so low, I think he'll have a little bit of that Bush 2000 effect.

[Devout Centrist]

He could beat expectations by not being an ass, but let's face it, we're talking about Donald Trump.

[IceSpear]

The expectations are so low, I think he'll have a little bit of that Bush 2000 effect.

[Illiniwek]

It depends on whose "expectations" we're talking about here...

[Penelope]

Trump will almost certainly outperform expectations. Pretty much every presidential or vice presidential debate is either forgotten instantly or is remembered entirely for a few tremendous zingers that the "winning candidate" delivered. If there's anything I can say about Trump, it's that he's good at zingers, and good at making at ass out of himself for publicity.

[CivicParticipant]

Definitely better. The fact that he is not an experienced politician actually is in his favor this particular cycle.

[Wrong about 2024 Ghost]

If he does show up, I think he has an excellent chance of losing the election on the spot (even more than he probably has already). Clinton will poke him, and if he hits back with misogynistic insults (his forte) instead of  defending himself or counter-attacking her record, he's done.

[Ljube]

Basically, since the expectations are so low, he will perform brilliantly.

By the way, let me remind you all that that was all part of his plan. Lower the expectations so that even a mediocre performance would be declared a victory.

[Hermit For Peace]

Basically, since the expectations are so low, he will perform brilliantly.

By the way, let me remind you all that that was all part of his plan. Lower the expectations so that even a mediocre performance would be declared a victory.

That's not saying much about your candidate. In fact, it's pretty insulting I'd say. And that's good enough for you?

[Ljube]

Basically, since the expectations are so low, he will perform brilliantly.

By the way, let me remind you all that that was all part of his plan. Lower the expectations so that even a mediocre performance would be declared a victory.

That's not saying much about your candidate. In fact, it's pretty insulting I'd say. And that's good enough for you?

I am a realist, unlike you Democrats.
For you, Hillary can do no wrong.

[HisGrace]

He could beat expectations by not being an ass, but let's face it, we're talking about Donald Trump.

That's the thing, it's not like people are necessarily saying Trump will do badly because he'll say stupid stuff all night (even though he will) but because he comes off like a belligerent buffoon. Clinton will surely try to goad him into saying something racist/sexist/generally nasty and it will probably work.

[HisGrace]

However, Trump was said to have won many of the Republican primary debates. How will Trump do in the first general election debate compared to expectations?

Who said that? Trump? His polling numbers declined after a number of the debates in the primaries.

[President Johnson]

Basically, since the expectations are so low, he will perform brilliantly.

By the way, let me remind you all that that was all part of his plan. Lower the expectations so that even a mediocre performance would be declared a victory.

[136or142]

Donald Trump will be entertaining, but only for ten minutes in a two hour debate.

[Wrong about 2024 Ghost]

Donald Trump will be entertaining, but only for ten minutes in a two hour debate.

I bet he will try to get Stein and Johnson included. He may even use their exclusion as an excuse for skipping the debates.

[pho]

Don't underestimate him. Hillary has a tendency to get defensive and irritated, and there are few people more offensive and irritating than Trump. Hillary is terrible when she's off message, Trump will be baiting her the whole time.

[AGA]

However, Trump was said to have won many of the Republican primary debates. How will Trump do in the first general election debate compared to expectations?

Who said that? Trump? His polling numbers declined after a number of the debates in the primaries.

I remember seeing some polls specifically on a debate where a plurality of people said that Trump won.

[HagridOfTheDeep]

Hillary Clinton will basically disqualify him from the presidency at the first debate, as long as she comes knowing exactly what words Donald Trump used in his moments of buffoonery, when he said them, and where he was. She needs to fact check him on the spot if he tries to deny past statements he has made.

[HisGrace]

Hillary Clinton will basically disqualify him from the presidency at the first debate, as long as she comes knowing exactly what words Donald Trump used in his moments of buffoonery, when he said them, and where he was. She needs to fact check him on the spot if he tries to deny past statements he has made.

Hillary Clinton is a rare example of someone who is not charismatic, but still a good debater due to being forceful and confident.

Also remember that the format is different in a 1x1 debate. The huge Rep debates were just like dueling press conferences. He'll get called out way more often vs Clinton than he ever did in the Republican debates. And when he started to get called out more (mainly by Cruz) later in the Republican debates he really wilted under the pressure since he only comes off well when he gets to spew his crap unchecked. It started to effect him in tracking polls after debates which is probably part of why he stopped doing them.