"They will still talk about Russia"

In the USA andfar beyond their borders, they discuss the results of the first round of the television battles between presidential candidates - Hillary Clinton, representing the Democratic Party, and Republican Donald Trump. Most of the expert assessments are in favor of Clinton, who behaved somewhat more confident and aggressive than her opponent. Trump looked unexpectedly moderately compared to how he behaved during the election campaign, and rather defended himself. However, two more rounds of the debate are ahead, and to whom they will bring success, no one today begins to predict.

According to the Los Angeles Times newspaper observers , separately evaluating every thematic segment of the debate, Clinton in all cases turned out to be a little stronger than Trump, who, according to experts of the newspaper, did not really prepare for the performance: “Remember how four years ago (during the debate with the Republican candidate Mitt Romny. He did not prepare seriously ... Trump did the same in advance that he did not need preparation, and, like Obama, paid for it.

Trump boasted that he did not need preparation, and, like Obama in 2012, paid for it

The Washington Post also comes to similar conclusions, noting that reproaches to him from the side of the Republican associates were already forced to promise Donald Trump that in the second round of the debate he would “hit more feasibility”. At the same time, surveys of viewers at once at the end of the television bits did not give a unequivocal picture. According to CNN television companies , Hillary Clinton was stronger - 62% of respondents were awarded to her, and only 27% Trump. A survey on the CNBC website brought opposite results: 67% in favor of Trump, 33% per Clinton. However, these polls are usually far from balanced and representativeness, and much the best indicator of the one which of the candidates managed to lure more voters to their side are “full -fledged” public opinion polls - their results should appear in the coming days.

Here are the most significant fragments of the debate, the live broadcast of which is radio freedom:

With his impressions of the first round of the debate and forecasts regarding how the two remaining clashes of Clinton and Trump on the air are formed, the political scientist, doctoral student of the Columbia University , Maria Sneova , shared Radio Liberty.

- Based on the experience of past election campaigns, how important are the television battles in principle? Are they able to turn something, for example, in favor of the candidate who is behind them?

-It happens differently, there are various historical precedents, but, of course, the debate is important. A significant share of the Americans is already making the final choice, it is on the basis of the debate. This is especially true for not yet determined voters. Therefore, there is always great attention to the debate. I must say that the process of viewing debate itself is a special culture in America. All bars, cafes, restaurants at this time are crowded, everyone broadcast the debate. There are special places, you can even buy tickets to the cinema, where the debate will also show.

- It does without clashes? Still, excited people, supporters of different candidates ...

-Yesterday, my friend was just in such a situation when the only supporter of Trump was present in the bar where he came, New York was a left-wing city, a democratic one, so, the whole bar was one "trox" that did not hide it. But there were no scandals. In general, this is still a civilized city. I was also in the bar, I also did not observe any skirmishes. But, of course, everything happens, because a very tense struggle, very high risks for all sides.

- Immediately there were data from different polls regarding who won the first round of the debate, according to the public. Why is such a huge scatter? CNN states that in fact, two to one in favor of Hillary Clinton, Trump and his supporters will release the results of other polls, where directly opposite results.

- This is typical. Four years ago, when the debate of Romny - Obama walked, the same was the situation. It is quite natural, depending on which audience they interview, respectively, that audience says: “No, well, Hillary definitely won” or “No, Trump was stronger.” I must say that a rather flat race was observed yesterday. To be honest, I expected Trump to speak worse, he took a rather moderate position, although it is clear that he was breaking away, and Hillary was able to successfully, he must give her tribute, at some points to provoke him when he begins to be clearly annoyed, he does not hold a blow, unlike Hillary Clinton. I also note, if we talk about the history of the presidential debate, then, according to Net Silver’s observations, this is one of the famous electoral analysts - usually the candidate who is in the catch -up position is usually won. Therefore, it could be expected that Trump would get an advantage. But he could not clearly get ahead of Clinton, which nevertheless turned out to be a little stronger. However, not one of the participants had a pronounced victory or the same loss.

Trump could not clearly get ahead of Clinton, who still turned out to be a little stronger

-In the behavior of both candidates, was it noticeable, according to your impressions, some tactical displacement? Did they try their behavior, what they said, to intercept some part of the voter with the opponent, to focus not only on their electorate, which will vote, but also on those who hesitate, or even those who are more inclined to vote behind the opponent?

- Yes, and no. On the one hand, Trump clearly moved to the center - this is very noticeable. Because he performed much more moderately, unlike how he behaved on the primaries, his speech was much more built. There were moments when he clearly tried to transfer the sympathy of the African American and the Spanish -speaking community to his side that Hillary, by the way, noticed and quite successfully opposed him in this sense. That is, clearly from Trump, there is a desire to move to the center, since he is very inferior to Hillary in regarding ethnic minorities, there is clearly an attempt to drag a part of them to his side, especially when it came to ensuring the law and order. Hillary Clinton, rather, applied quite more successful tactics not regarding attempts to conquer some new groups of the electorate, but simply tried to provoke Trump, angry him and show that he does not know how to keep himself, begins to break away. This, as many note, did it successfully. Trump was actually all the time in the position of justifying. Of course, he also attacked her, and there is something, frankly, both candidates were sinned in the past, but Clinton did it a little better. The main problem where it will be difficult for it is all that regarding the domestic political agenda, especially the creation of new jobs. It is clear that Trump acts on the typical right -wing platform, associated with the fact that he is trying to fight against globalization, appeals to lower groups of the middle class, workers, “blue collars” who feel in a wounded position. And here Hillary, yesterday it was noticeable, it is difficult to contrast anything with him.

Clinton will be difficult in regarding the domestic agenda, especially the creation of new jobs

- This can affect the course of the further two rounds? In general, what, in your opinion, will dominate - economics and domestic policy?

- There will be Trump's attempt to reduce the discussion in this direction. Hillary is much better for foreign policy. Trump is very weak in this. Now he has been a little bit, but it is still quite easy to notice that he does not have a pronounced foreign policy program, he scared all the allies, for example, according to NATO by saying that America should stop financing NATO in such volumes, and in general, we must turn off our role of the “world gendarme”. And Hillary just yesterday tried to send a sedative message to NATO allies and countries that really depend on American support.

- If we talk about foreign policy, as far as I could judge, Russia flashed during the first round, but a little about the tangent, not a lot about it was talked about. What do you think will be the theme of Russia, Vladimir Putin and such "tender" relations with Donald Trump to be somehow extended during the two upcoming rounds of the debate? How significant is this for an American voter?

Compared to previous elections, Russia this time is a very important topic

- In Russia, there are part of analysts, including liberal ones, who, out of habit, claim that Russia does not play any role as a topic in the American elections. This is not true, I want to emphasize. Now Russia is a very discussed topic, it is not as you said, it was actively discussed yesterday, but nevertheless it was affected when it was about safety and cyber ends. Trump, as always, tried to protect Russia a little, said that maybe this is China, and Hillary just said that this is Russia, we have data and so on. But the Russian theme will still appear, and not only in connection with cyber attacks, but in general because Russia is really an object that attracts attention, this applies to the crisis in Syria, and Ukraine and everything related to NATO and the protection of the eastern borders of the alliance. In this sense, they will still talk about Russia. Hillary will definitely use this as a vulnerable place in Trump, since Trump has certain sympathies to the Kremlin that he does not hide. Compared to previous elections, when Obama and Romny fought, Russia this time is a very important topic, ”said political scientist Maria Snegova.

The next two rounds of the presidential television experts were scheduled for October 9 and 19 . In addition, on October 4, the US Vice-President, Senator from Virginia Tim Kane (from the Democrats) and the Indiana Governor Mike Pence (from Republicans), will meet (from the Republicans).