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Topics and participation in the second presidential debate (October 2016)

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See also: Presidential debate at Washington University (October 9, 2016)



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This article analyzes the central themes of the second general election presidential debate held on October 9, 2016, at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri. The transcript prepared by The Washington Post was used to measure candidate participation and audience engagement.[1] Footage from the debate was consulted where there were ambiguities in the text.

For comparison, see the analyses of the first general election debate and the final Democratic primary and Republican primary debates held in April 2016 and March 2016, respectively.

HIGHLIGHTS
  • Although Donald Trump accused the moderators of not giving him an equal amount of time to respond to Hillary Clinton, both candidates spoke for approximately 39 minutes. Trump also said approximately 1,000 more words than Clinton.
  • Half of the discussion segments related to presidential temperament, character, and fitness. Only one-sixth of the debate's discussion segments were focused on foreign affairs or national security; the three most frequently mentioned countries were Russia, Syria, and Iraq.
  • Several politicians and high-profile individuals were named more than once throughout the debate, including First Lady Michelle Obama and Capt. Humayun Khan. President Barack Obama and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad were mentioned most frequently.

    • Participants

    Hillary Clinton (D)

    Hillary Clinton (D)
    Donald Trump (R)

    Donald Trump (R)

    Segments

    This debate featured 17 unique discussion segments covering presidential behavior and fitness, domestic affairs, and national security. There were no opening or closing statements. These discussion segments were measured by any question from an audience member or shift in the theme of a discussion prompted by the moderators, Anderson Cooper and Martha Raddatz.

    1. Appropriate presidential behavior
    2. The 2005 Trump tape
    3. Trump's temperament
    4. Clinton's private email server
    5. Healthcare
    6. Islamophobia
    7. Muslim immigration ban
    8. Public vs. private policy positions
    9. Taxes and the wealthy
    10. Trump's tax returns
    11. Humanitarian crisis in Syria
    12. Assad regime in Syria
    13. Being "devoted to all" Americans as president
    14. Discipline and leadership
    15. Supreme Court
    16. Energy policy and fossil fuels
    17. Positive traits of opponent

    One-sixth of the debate's discussion segments were related to foreign affairs or national security. Four countries were mentioned more than five times: Iran, Iraq, Russia, and Syria.

    Several political leaders and high-profile individuals were also named more than once in the debate by the candidates. President Barack Obama and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad were the most frequently mentioned.

    Candidate participation by speaking time

    According to Politico, Trump spoke for 39.1 minutes and Clinton spoke for 38.5 minutes.[2] Trump also spoke at a quicker rate than Clinton, saying approximately 1,000 more words than her throughout the night.


    Audience engagement

    Audience engagement was measured by noting applause, cheering, and laughter in The Washington Post's transcript. Footage from the debate was consulted when the text was ambiguous about to whom the audience was responding.

    Although the audience was instructed to remain silent throughout the debate, they audibly applauded or laughed in response to the candidates seven times throughout the event. This was half the audience engagement seen in the first presidential debate moderated by Lester Holt. Both Cooper and Raddatz admonished the audience during the discussion segment on whether Trump's temperament had changed. Raddatz said that "the audience needs to calm down here." Shortly after, Cooper said, "We want to remind the audience to please not talk out loud. Please do not applaud. You're just wasting time."

    Overall, Trump received more positives instances of audience engagement than Clinton, six to one.

    Comments and exchanges receiving an audience response

    • Trump: But what President Clinton did, he was impeached, he lost his license to practice law. He had to pay an $850,000 fine to one of the women. Paula Jones, who's also here tonight. And I will tell you that when Hillary brings up a point like that and she talks about words that I said 11 years ago, I think it's disgraceful, and I think she should be ashamed of herself, if you want to know the truth.
    • Clinton: Well, first, let me start by saying that so much of what he's just said is not right, but he gets to run his campaign any way he chooses. He gets to decide what he wants to talk about. Instead of answering people's questions, talking about our agenda, laying out the plans that we have that we think can make a better life and a better country, that's his choice. When I hear something like that, I am reminded of what my friend, Michelle Obama, advised us all: When they go low, you go high.
    • Trump: So we're going to get a special prosecutor, and we're going to look into it, because you know what? People have been—their lives have been destroyed for doing one-fifth of what you've done. And it's a disgrace. And honestly, you ought to be ashamed of yourself.
      Raddatz: Secretary Clinton, I want to follow up on that. I'm going to let you talk about e-mails.
      Clinton: ...because everything he just said is absolutely false, but I'm not surprised.
      Trump: Oh, really?
    • Clinton: So, once again, go to HillaryClinton.com. We have literally Trump—you can fact check him in real time. Last time at the first debate, we had millions of people fact checking, so I expect we'll have millions more fact checking, because, you know, it is—it's just awfully good that someone with the temperament of Donald Trump is not in charge of the law in our country.
      Trump: Because you'd be in jail.
    • Cooper: That first one goes to Secretary Clinton, because you started out the last one to the audience.
      Clinton: If he wants to start, he can start. No, go ahead, Donald.
      Trump: No, I'm a gentleman, Hillary. Go ahead.
    • Trump: Well, I think I should respond, because—so ridiculous. Look, now she's blaming—she got caught in a total lie. Her papers went out to all her friends at the banks, Goldman Sachs and everybody else, and she said things—WikiLeaks that just came out. And she lied. Now she's blaming the lie on the late, great Abraham Lincoln. That's one that I haven't...
    • Cooper: Secretary Clinton, does Mr. Trump have the discipline to be a good leader?
      Clinton: No.
      Trump: I'm shocked to hear that.

    Candidate analysis

    Word cloud of Hillary Clinton's speech during the debate
    Hillary-Clinton-circle.png
    • Candidate: Hillary Clinton
    • Number of words: 6,217
    • Most commonly used words:
      • People: 44
      • Want: 38
      • Think: 35
      • Donald: 33
      • Work: 30
    Word cloud of Donald Trump's speech during the debate
    Donald-Trump-circle.png
    • Candidate: Donald Trump
    • Number of words: 7,156
    • Most commonly used words:
      • People: 49
      • Know: 40
      • Very: 38
      • Country: 36
      • Look: 36

    See also

    Footnotes

    1. ↑ The Washington Post, "Everything that was said at the second Donald Trump vs. Hillary Clinton debate, highlighted," October 9, 2016
    2. ↑ Politico, "Speaking time near even in second presidential debate," October 10, 2016
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    Insiders Poll: First Democratic debate (October 13, 2015) • Presidential Nominating Index: Clinton remains choice of Democratic Insiders • Presidential Nominating Index: Bush remains choice of Republican Insiders • Insiders Poll: Winners and losers from the Fox News Republican Debate


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