Quote (thundercock @ 14 Aug 2016 17:35)
I think Trump is going to have to have an excellent series of debates against Clinton in order to win a swing state.
That's probably true. He hasn't been doing himself any favors in his recent public appearances, but I think he has a chance to narrow the edge in a nationally televised debate where anything can happen.
I think people underestimate Trump in the debate arena. I know the General Election debates will prove to be different than the GOP debates, but Trump has proven to be a very skilled debater. He's very quick. For better or worse, I think he is more likely to deliver the "line of the night" or a zinger that defines the debate.
The media will probably dub Hillary as the winner of most of the debates, and she is undoubtedly better versed in discussing public policy, but Trump is the wild card. I think he could surprise some people. Being down by so much in the polls, he's really counting on making an impression in these debates. He's going to be pushing the envelope whereas Hillary Clinton is likely going to want to play it safe and try and coast to a victory behind key demographics.
I'm not ready to call the debates in Hillary's favor yet, as many folks are. I think the Donald could surprise. I just don't think it's going to be enough to make a difference, as HRC looks like she might have the election locked up, barring something dramatic happening (WikiLeaks "October Surprise," massive scandal, etc).