alternatehistory.com
2nd Presidential Debate
2nd Presidential Debate
The 2nd Presidential Debate was held in Winston-Salen, North Carolina on October 11, 2000. Each candidate was determined to make their mark and seize the day. Indeed, each candidate came into the debate tied, but with Trump showing obvious momentum. Trump needed a strong performance here to capitalize on that momentum, so it was crucial that he did well here in North Carolina.
The first question was on foreign interventions. The topic was very controversial and Trump had quite different ideas to Gore, or even Bush who called for "a more humble foreign policy". Trump said that now that the Cold War was over, it was time for America to become a dealmaker, not a chess player. He also questioned the expansion of NATO under Bill Clinton and most controversially of all criticized the entry of China into the WTO. However, these unique positions would win Trump a lot of support and early helped contrast himself with two bland choices.
Gore once again talked at long about his experience, but Trump decided to take a different approach. He said that common sense was more valuable than experience, and questioned whether the Administration considered NAFTA and other trade deals, which he accused of taking jobs, "common sense".
Trump and Gore would debate this strongly. Gore, the free trade advocate, hit back at Trump and said that he would bankrupt the country with his "irresponsible" policies. Again, Gore has shot himself in the foot. For all his attempts to paint Trump as an extremist and himself as the "mainstream" option, he was angering the base whom was now more inclined to stay home or even defect to Trump.
By all accounts, Trump had won the first portion of the debate and it showed.
The next portion went back to the budget. Here Gore and Bush both attacked Trump as irresponsible with money and debt. Bush went on the offensive, saying that a businessman like Trump should know that "you have to balance the books". Bush defended his own pro-business record and encouraged on the fence Republicans to return home.
Trump hit back and said that businesses would save money if the government was responsible for healthcare. He also said that his pro-growth policies would help businesses, especially small businesses in the short term and the long run. Trump managed to score a win-win in this portion of the debate.
The next topic was crime and immigration. Trump excelled at this topic, but faced harsh push back from his opponents, who accused Trump of being discriminatory. This was likely the most controversial portion of the debate, with independents being less swayed by this topic. However, it was red meat to Trump's growng base, who saw Trump as tough on crime and illegal immigration.
The next segment turned to the issue of Elian Gonzalez. Elian was a young Cuban boy who had become embroiled in a heated custody and immigration controversy that led to federal agents taking him forcefully from his relatives and deporting him to Cuba.
Bush and Gore debated for a while about customs and immigration but the true highlight of the debate came when Trump condemned both the Clinton Administration and Bush's brother for taking the boy away and returning him to Cuba. It was a bold position to take, but it was what would win Trump the vast majority of the Cuban American community, once a solid Republican voting bloc.
When all was said and done, this was what people remembered from the debate, and what won him the debate. Trump had proved he was brave enough to think different, and stand up for what he believed him. Voters would gladly reward an independent thinker and most polls showed that Trump had dominated.
Who won the 2nd Presidential Debate?
Trump - 54%
Bush - 25%
Gore - 18%
The 2nd Presidential Debate was held in Winston-Salen, North Carolina on October 11, 2000. Each candidate was determined to make their mark and seize the day. Indeed, each candidate came into the debate tied, but with Trump showing obvious momentum. Trump needed a strong performance here to capitalize on that momentum, so it was crucial that he did well here in North Carolina.
The first question was on foreign interventions. The topic was very controversial and Trump had quite different ideas to Gore, or even Bush who called for "a more humble foreign policy". Trump said that now that the Cold War was over, it was time for America to become a dealmaker, not a chess player. He also questioned the expansion of NATO under Bill Clinton and most controversially of all criticized the entry of China into the WTO. However, these unique positions would win Trump a lot of support and early helped contrast himself with two bland choices.
Gore once again talked at long about his experience, but Trump decided to take a different approach. He said that common sense was more valuable than experience, and questioned whether the Administration considered NAFTA and other trade deals, which he accused of taking jobs, "common sense".
Trump and Gore would debate this strongly. Gore, the free trade advocate, hit back at Trump and said that he would bankrupt the country with his "irresponsible" policies. Again, Gore has shot himself in the foot. For all his attempts to paint Trump as an extremist and himself as the "mainstream" option, he was angering the base whom was now more inclined to stay home or even defect to Trump.
By all accounts, Trump had won the first portion of the debate and it showed.
The next portion went back to the budget. Here Gore and Bush both attacked Trump as irresponsible with money and debt. Bush went on the offensive, saying that a businessman like Trump should know that "you have to balance the books". Bush defended his own pro-business record and encouraged on the fence Republicans to return home.
Trump hit back and said that businesses would save money if the government was responsible for healthcare. He also said that his pro-growth policies would help businesses, especially small businesses in the short term and the long run. Trump managed to score a win-win in this portion of the debate.
The next topic was crime and immigration. Trump excelled at this topic, but faced harsh push back from his opponents, who accused Trump of being discriminatory. This was likely the most controversial portion of the debate, with independents being less swayed by this topic. However, it was red meat to Trump's growng base, who saw Trump as tough on crime and illegal immigration.
The next segment turned to the issue of Elian Gonzalez. Elian was a young Cuban boy who had become embroiled in a heated custody and immigration controversy that led to federal agents taking him forcefully from his relatives and deporting him to Cuba.
Bush and Gore debated for a while about customs and immigration but the true highlight of the debate came when Trump condemned both the Clinton Administration and Bush's brother for taking the boy away and returning him to Cuba. It was a bold position to take, but it was what would win Trump the vast majority of the Cuban American community, once a solid Republican voting bloc.
When all was said and done, this was what people remembered from the debate, and what won him the debate. Trump had proved he was brave enough to think different, and stand up for what he believed him. Voters would gladly reward an independent thinker and most polls showed that Trump had dominated.
Who won the 2nd Presidential Debate?
Trump - 54%
Bush - 25%
Gore - 18%
- Abraham Washington
- Word Count: 640