Presidential debate: Trump, Clinton exchange accusations on other’s character

10:03 p.m. Wrap-up from reporter Bill Roberts in Nampa: A dozen friends gathered at the Nampa home of Rebecca de Leon. As Latinos, they watched the debate looking for some sign that the prejudice and bigotry many describe as Trump’s campaign would be change. They didn’t see any change

Trump said he would be president of all the people, but Estefania Mondragon said he would represent “white, heterosexual ... males. I am feeling very nervous for the future.”

De Leon said she is unhappy with Trump’s characterization of Muslims. “I have a lot of friends who are Muslims,” she said. “They are not the way he describes them.”

Throughout the debate, said Irene Ruiz of Boise, “Trump kept piling on.”

Few in the room found a true winner, saying not enough time was spent on what the candidates would do: “They kept picking at each other,” said Ruben Pedraza, of Nampa.

9:20 p.m. Wrap-up from reporter Bill Dentzer at Lucky 13 in East Boise: The Democrat viewers here said they both got what they came for and got what they expected: facts and details from Clinton, dissembling and deflection from Trump.

“Hillary demonstrated a broad, deep command of the issues and her experience was evident,” said Lisa Hecht. “Donald Trump did a lot of redirection. Instead of answering the questions, he attacked.”

Hecht, a retired engineer for Hewlett-Packard and a member of the Union of Concerned Scientists, added: “I’m just excited that the climate finally became a debate issue.”

“Donald Trump presents a false choice between jobs and fossil fuels. (Clinton) acknowledged the seriousness of climate change, which I needed to hear.”

Annette Guidry of Boise said: “On the surface, it looked like a stalemate because Trump was able to get away with bullying and interrupting Ms. Clinton so many times.” Trump, she said, “rarely completely focused on questions and answered them.”

About 10 people turned out to the event. As the debate started, Michelle Barber expressed some anxiety. Barber from Vermont, is passing through Boise and found the debate party on Hillary Clinton’s website.

“I think this could be very scary, and it’s frightening at this level of politics,” she said. “I think Hillary can handle herself. I feel for her personally, but I think she can handle her business.”

A father and son, Scott Smith and Sam Reid, watched the debate while waiting for their pizza. They are both ambivalent about the candidates. “It would be very hard for me to vote for either of them on character alone,” said Smith, visiting from Massachusetts.

Said Mike Keith, a Clinton supporter from Meridian: “I don’t think they’re saying anything that moves the needle. It sounds like Trump’s very much talking to his supporters.”

9:13 p.m. From McClatchy: “Open combat: 5 takeaways from the presidential debate”

8:41 p.m. The debate is over. Stay tuned for wrap-up and reaction from Bill Roberts and Bill Dentzer at our two watch parties in a few minutes.

8:34 p.m. Last question: Audience member asks candidates to name one thing they respect about the other.

Clinton: “I respect his children. They are incredibly able and devoted and that says a lot about Donald.”

Trump thanks Clinton for the compliment: “I’m very proud of my children.”

“I will say this about Hillary,” says Trump. “She doesn’t quit. She doesn’t give up. I respect that. She’s a fighter.”

8:31 p.m. Energy question: Trump says he wants to boost energy, coal, steel industry. “We are putting out energy companies out of business. ... The EPA is so restrictive they are putting our energy companies out of business.”

Clinton says Trump is buying steel “dumped” by China for his buildings.

Clinton: Comprehensive energy plan must address climate change and clean energy, while helping people losing jobs in coal country. “I don’t want to walk away from them.”

8:27 p.m. From Bill Roberts @IDS_BillRoberts in Nampa: “Trump will represent white, heterosexual males, not all the people, says Estefania Mondragon.”

8:25 p.m. Audience member asks question about how candidates would select Supreme Court justices. Clinton says Trump nominees would roll back abortion rights. Trump says he’d pick a justice like Antonin Scalia. Urges Clinton to self-fund presidential campaign like he’s done.

8:24 p.m. From the Associated Press: “Trump and Clinton exchange tense barbs during second presidential debate”

8:19 p.m. Clinton is asked about calling Trump supporters “deplorables.” Clinton says she regrets the words: “My argument is not with his supporters. It’s with him.”

Says Trump: “She has tremendous hate in her heart.”

8:18 p.m. From Robert M Ehlert @IDS_HelloIdaho:

Clinton scored well with Syria questions, giving detail. Trump vague #PresidentialDebate #debates #DebateNightInAmerica #debatenight

8:16 p.m. Trump says Clinton, in her service in the Senate, did not do what she says she wants to do for the poor, on taxes, etc. Says she’s all talk, no action.

8:14 p.m. From Robert M Ehlert @IDS_HelloIdaho:

Trump charges U.S. nuclear weaponry is old and Russia’s is new. #PresidentialDebate #debates #DebateNightInAmerica #debatenight

8:13 p.m. Trump says moderators are letting Clinton give long answers, but cut him off when time is up.

8:13 p.m. From Lucky 13 in East Boise:

8:12 p.m. Trump: Generals Patton, McArthur “are spinning in their grave at what we’re doing in the Middle East.”

8:08 p.m. From @kevinmillershow:

8:06 p.m. Headline from Saturday: “Idaho’s Simpson joins Crapo in withdrawing support for Trump”

8:03 p.m. Question on Syria via Facebook.

8:01 p.m. And in other news: “Billy Bush, embroiled in Trump tape scandal, is asked to take a break from ‘Today’ show”

7:57 p.m. From Bill Roberts in Nampa:

7:56 p.m. From the Washington Post: “Trump says his stance on Muslim immigrants has ‘morphed’

7:55 p.m. From Robert M Ehlert @IDS_HelloIdaho:

Halfway: Brooding, pacing, nose-in the-air Trump not likely selling Trump. #PresidentialDebate #debates #DebateNightInAmerica #debatenight

7:51 p.m. From Bill Dentzer at Lucky 13:

Mike Keith, Meridian at Boise #Debates2016 watch: I don’t think they’re saying anything that moves the needle.

7:48 p.m. From the Associated Press: Trump denies actions he bragged about on tape

From the Associated Press: Trump declares war on GOP ‘hypocrites’

7:44 p.m. Robert Ehlert on the “elephant in the room:”

7:42 p.m. From Bill Roberts @IDS_BillRoberts watching with group in Nampa:

Trump promise of health insurance plans that will be “so good,” draws laughter. #Debates2016

7:41 p.m. From Statesman Editorial Editor Robert M Ehlert @IDS_HelloIdaho:

Trump is all in with unhinged arsenal: names (Devii) and threats of ‘jail’#PresidentialDebate #debates #DebateNightInAmerica #debatenight

7:37 p.m. In Nampa, Trump attack on Clinton draws doubts:

7:33 p.m. Follower asks:

7:31 p.m. Audience question about health care. Clinton wants to fix Obamacare. Trump says “Obamacare is a disaster. ... We have to repeal it, and replace it.”

7:29 p.m. Trump challenges moderators for failing to ask Clinton about her emails.

7:25: p.m. From Bill Roberts in Nampa: “It’s just talk,” says Trump of lewd tape. Response in Nampa: “You’re kidding.”

7:24 p.m. Anderson Cooper reminding audience to remain quiet

7:23 p.m. Trump says, if elected, he will ask his AG to appoint special prosecutor to investigate Hillary Clinton corruption. Clinton said Trump is wrong, and fact-checkers will support her.

7:22 p.m. In Canyon County, Irene Ruiz doesn’t like the “locker room talk” defense.

7:20 p.m. From Canyon County:

7:19 p.m. Audience cheers for Clinton’s quote of Michelle Obama for staying “high” when people go low.

7:18 p.m. Audience applauds Trump’s answer criticizing Bill Clinton.

7:17 p.m. From Boise’s Lucky 13:

7:16 p.m. Debate moderators take questiion from online questioner. Trump answers by citing Bill Clinton’s behavior with women, Hillary Clinton’s defense of her husband and criticisms of his attackers.

7:13 p.m. Clinton returns to video. Trump “is not fit” to be president. “We have seen this throughout the campaign. We have seen him insult women.”

7:11 p.m. Cooper keeps challenging Trump. “I have great respect for women. No one has more respect for women than I do.”

7:10 p.m. Anderson Cooper says Trump didn’t answer about his behavior. Trump apologizes, but then turns answer to “carnage” all over the world. “It’s locker room talk. It’s one of those things,” he said. “I will knock the hell out of ISIS.”

7:08 p.m. At Lucky 13, one Boise watcher expect “crazy” evening.

7:05 p.m. First question from citizen is about “appropriate” behavior and being a role model. Clinton gets to answer first.

7:04 p.m. Statesman reporter Bill Roberts has checked in from Canyon County.

6:58 p.m. Reporter Bill Dentzer is getting ready to watch with a group of Democrats at Lucky 13 in East Boise.

6:51 p.m. Still a few minutes away from the start of tonight’s debate, although the latest news is that Donald Trump held a pre-debate press conference with four women who accuse Bill Clinton of sexual misconduct. Here’s how the AP reported it:

One by one, the women defended Trump, denounced Clinton and criticized Hillary Clinton, Trump’s Democratic opponent.

“Mr. Trump may have said some bad words,’ said Juanita Broaddrick. “But Bill Clinton raped me. And Hillary Clinton threatened me. I don’t think there’s any comparison.”

Here’s our pre-debate story:

Since when has a televised presidential debate ever been rated “For Mature Audiences Only”?

That’s part of the buzz ahead of Sunday night’s second Presidential debate between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton. The Stateman’s Bill Dentzer will be at another debate watch party in Boise, posting live updates from the event on social media and on the Statesman site. Reporter Bill Roberts will be watching with a group of voters in Canyon County.

Candidates last week both weathered damaging disclosures, Trump’s far more provocative. All eyes tonight will be on how he handles blowback from Friday’s leak of vulgar remarks he made about women in a video from 2005. The disclosure has prompted prominent Republicans nationally to desert him in droves, including a few from Idaho. The debate will be his first live public speaking appearance following the leak.

Almost drowned out in that uproar was the near-concurrent drop Friday of emails with excerpts of paid speeches Clinton made to Wall Street firms, among other audiences. Clinton refused to release transcripts of those speeches during her primary battle with Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders.

After watching the first presidential and the vice presidential debate with partisan Republican audiences, the Statesman will be watching Sunday’s debate with a group of Democrats.

Parents, after you consider putting the kids to bed early, join other grown-ups watching the debate and this page for updates, or follow The Statesman on Facebook and Twitter, as well as Dentzer’s Twitter feed.

This story was originally published October 9, 2016 at 9:55 AM with the headline "Presidential debate: Trump, Clinton exchange accusations on other’s character."