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Clinton-Trump: One of the odder debates

She called him Donald. He called her Secretary Clinton. She appeared to be making an effort to smile as often as possible, even when it wasn't entirely appropriate.

She called him Donald. He called her Secretary Clinton.

She appeared to be making an effort to smile as often as possible, even when it wasn't entirely appropriate.

He interrupted her. A lot.

After a TV buildup that fell somewhere between that for a major prize fight and the Super Bowl, Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump finally met on a stage at Hofstra University on Monday to play a TV version of themselves that wasn't starkly different from what we'd seen so far.

NBC Nightly News anchor Lester Holt, himself interrupted from time to time, presided over one of the odder televised debates in American history, one that included references to Rosie O'Donnell, Howard Stern and Fox News' Sean Hannity.

While not exactly an overpowering presence, Holt made himself heard, pressing Trump in particular on his tax returns, his continuing to question President Obama's birthplace for years after the production of his birth certificate and on his denial that he once supported the U.S. invasion of Iraq.

Here's what I noticed:

Product placement. The former host of NBC's The Apprentice didn't let the commercial-free debate format stop him from injecting commerce into his remarks. "If I don't get there one way, I'll get to Pennsylvania Avenue" another, Trump said at one point, touting a project in which his company's converting a former U.S. post office in Washington into a hotel.

If Twitter's any indication, what sounded like a slight sniffle on Trump's part was as noticeable to some viewers as a 5 o'clock shadow was to those watching Richard Nixon debate John F. Kennedy 56 years ago. Perhaps the air in the hall was a little dry?

Trump quote most likely to make it into a Clinton ad: "That makes me smart," as Trump interrupted Clinton's noting that on the few occasions that he has released tax returns - in connection with casino development - that they showed him paying no federal tax.

Clinton quote most likely to make it into a Trump ad: "I have a feeling by the end of the evening, I'm going to be blamed for everything that's every happened." Should include Trump's interjection: "Why not?"

Clinton line that sounded most scripted: "Donald, I know you live in your own reality."

Trump line that sounded most scripted: "It's all words. It's all sound bites."

Fashion police should note that Holt wore a gray pin-striped suit with a blue and gray striped tie and a white pocket square, Trump a dark suit and baby blue tie, and Clinton a red pantsuit. They all looked fine.

"I think everybody agrees that she deserves it." That's Trump talking about O'Donnell, after Clinton noted the way he's talked about certain women over the years.

graye@phillynews.com

215-854-5950

@elgray

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