- Title: Clinton rouses US expats in Mexico during presidential debate
- Date: 27th September 2016
- Summary: MEXICO CITY, MEXICO (SEPTEMBER 26, 2016) (REUTERS) U.S. FLAG PAINTED ON RESTAURANT WALL VARIOUS OF RESTAURANT PATRONS WATCHING DEBATE WHILE EATING BELOW BBQ SIGN (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. RETIREE, DOUGLAS HALL, SAYING: "Well I don't want to be too optimistic but I think Hillary Clinton won the election tonight. I think the contrast between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump on the split screen was something that the American people will never be able to get out of their minds. There was a composed woman who was fully in control of all of the information and there was a man on the other side acting radically. And I think that split screen image in years to come will be viewed as the turning point in this election." VARIOUS OF PATRONS WATCHING DEBATE (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. OWNER OF RESTAURANT, DAN DEFOSSEY, SAYING: "The cool thing about the debate was that in our long tables we had Mexicans and Americans sitting together and sharing this experience together. I think that having different perspectives in it and getting excited about it was something really incredible to watch. You know they're talking about building walls and I think here we were able to break down some walls and have people come together and really engage in a good debate between the two candidates." MORE OF PATRONS WATCHING DEBATE HILLARY FOR PRESIDENT LOGO ON T-SHIRT MORE OF PATRONS WATCHING DEBATE PERSON WEARING CLINTON AND DEMOCRATS BADGES U.S. CITIZEN REGISTERING TO VOTE VOTER REGISTRATION SIGN U.S. CITIZENS REGISTERING TO VOTE
- Embargoed: 12th October 2016 06:28
- Keywords: Hillary Clinton Donald Trump presidential debate Mexico expatriates
- Location: MEXICO CITY, MEXICO
- City: MEXICO CITY, MEXICO
- Country: Mexico
- Topics: Government/Politics,Elections/Voting
- Reuters ID: LVA00151CB7T3
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Americans and Mexicans packed a restaurant bar in Mexico City on Monday (September 26) night to catch the first presidential debate between candidates Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump.
In the fiery debate, Democrat Hillary Clinton accused Republican Trump of racism, sexism and tax avoidance on Monday during a heated presidential debate that could reshape the 2016 campaign for the White House.
Trump, a real estate tycoon making his first run for public office, said Clinton's long years of service represented "bad experience" with few results and suggested her disavowal of a trade deal with Asian countries was insincere.
For Trump, 70, the debate was a chance to appear disciplined. For Clinton, 68, it was an opportunity to reassure voters she could be trusted.
Smelling victory, the US citizens in the audience were in the Clinton camp.
"Well I don't want to be too optimistic but I think Hillary Clinton won the election tonight. I think the contrast between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump on the split screen was something that the American people will never be able to get out of their minds. There was a composed woman who was fully in control of all of the information and there was a man on the other side acting radically. And I think that split screen image in years to come will be viewed as the turning point in this election," said US citizen Douglas Hall.
Mexicans are closely following this US election after posturing from Donald Trump to build a wall along the Mexico-US border and his pledges to deport millions of undocumented migrants south of the border.
Dan Defossey owns this American-themed restaurant in Mexico City and told Reuters bringing together both US citizens and Mexicans to watch the debate was reflective of the unity between both peoples.
"The cool thing about the debate was that in our long tables we had Mexicans and Americans sitting together and sharing this experience together. I think that having different perspectives in it and getting excited about it was something really incredible to watch. You know they're talking about building walls and I think here we were able to break down some walls and have people come together and really engage in a good debate between the two candidates," he said.
Opinion polls have shown the two candidates in a very tight race, with the latest Reuters/Ipsos polling showing Clinton ahead by 4 percentage points, with 41 percent of likely voters.
A second Reuters/Ipsos poll released on Monday (September 26) showed half of America's likely voters would rely on the debates to help them make their choice. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
- Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2016. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
- Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
