Round two: Second Clinton-Trump debate got down and dirty

It began when they came out and did not shake hands.

Sunday night's debate between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton openly showed the disdain with which each presidential candidate holds the other.

They did not mince words. Clinton said the lewd comments about women that Trump was taped making showed the man for who he really is. He said she should be in jail.

America got a look Sunday at the depth of the dislike the two candidates hold for each other, and it wasn't pretty.

But debates aren't supposed to be pretty. And the one Sunday night went a long way toward opening up the race in its final stages. It is obvious that both Clinton and Trump have taken off the gloves and are ready for a knock-down, drag-out finish.

In trying to decide who "won," Trump got the nod from many observers who said he came out ahead. But Clinton got her licks in, too.

The two candidates have one more debate to go. It will be at the University of Nevada in Las Vegas next Wednesday night. The rubber match is likely to provide simply another opportunity for the candidates to bash each other -- we have already heard them address most of the issues -- but at least it's good theater.

Published in Editorials on October 11, 2016 10:04 AM