Clinton, Trump bump heads in final US presidential debate

SBS World News Radio: Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has again refused to commit to accepting the result of November's presidential election.

Clinton, Trump bump heads in final US presidential debate

Clinton, Trump bump heads in final US presidential debate

With Donald Trump complaining about alleged voter fraud and suggesting the election is rigged in Hillary Clinton's favour, it was a question moderator Chris Wallace was bound to ask in the final television debate.

(Wallace) "I want to ask you here on the stage tonight, do you make the same commitment that you will absolutely, sir, that you will absolutely accept the result of this election?"

(Trump) "I will look at it at the time. I'm not looking at anything now, I'll look at it at the time."

(Clinton) "Let me respond to that because that's horrifying, you know, every time Donald thinks things are not going in his direction he claims that whatever-it-is is rigged against him."

For 90 minutes the two candidates debated a range of topics, including the composition of the United States Supreme Court, abortion, immigration controls and gun rights.

When it came to the topic of fitness for office, Donald Trump was asked about the numerous complaints from women who allege they were groped and kissed against their will.

"Nobody has more respect for women than I do. Nobody. Nobody has (Moderator: please everybody) and, frankly, those stories have been largely debunked."

Donald Trump not only denied the allegations but suggested the Clinton campaign was responsible for them.

"I would say, the only way - because those stories are all totally false, I have to say that - and I didn't even apologise to my wife, who's sitting right here because I didn't do anything. I didn't know any of these women. I didn't see these women, these women, the woman on the plane.... I think they want either fame or her (Clinton's) campaign did it. And I think it's her campaign."

Hillary Clinton says the women came forward after Donald Trump said in the last debate he'd never made unwanted advances towards women.

She attacked the way he responded to his accusers.

"About another woman, he said 'that wouldn't be my first choice.' He attacked the woman reporter writing the story, called her 'disgusting' as he has called a number of women during this campaign. Donald thinks belittling women makes him bigger. He goes after their dignity, their self-worth and I don't think there is a woman anywhere who doesn't know what that feels like."

The pair had a fierce exchange over the influence of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

(Clinton) "Well, that's because he'd rather have a puppet as president of the United States, and..."

(Trump) "No puppet. No puppet."

(Clinton) "And it's pretty clear..."

(Trump) "You're the puppet."

(Clinton) "It's pretty clear you won't admit..."

(Trump) "No, you're the puppet."

(Clinton) "...that the Russians have engaged in cyber attacks against the United States of America, that you encouraged espionage against our people, that you are willing to spout the Putin line, sign up for his wish-list, break up NATO, do whatever he wants to do and that you continue to get help from him because he has a very clear favourite in this race."

Ms Clinton leads in national polls and in most of the battleground states where the election will probably be decided.

Analyst Doctor Raymond Orr, from the University of Melbourne, says Donald Trump failed to do what was required to catch up to Hillary Clinton.

"Donald Trump benefited from lower expectations, but he did not do what he needed to do probably to change very many opinions - so a better performance, but not enough. That it's not quite saying who won or didn't win - but probably the best performance from both, but not enough to change anything."

 






Share
4 min read
Published 20 October 2016 7:00pm

Share this with family and friends