Less than 24 hours after her debate against Republican Donald Trump, a supremely confident Hillary Clinton emerged on the campaign trail Tuesday and made clear she believes she triumphed in the widely anticipated presidential forum.
“One down, two to go,” Mrs. Clinton told the crowd at a campaign rally in Raleigh, North Carolina.
Many media outlets and political pundits pronounced Mrs. Clinton the victor in her debate with Mr. Trump, though it’s not yet apparent whether the event will have any tangible impact on the 2016 race. Regardless, the former first lady clearly believes the debate helped her electoral chances, and she spent much of Tuesday’s rally recapping her most notable attacks on the Republican billionaire.
“When I confronted him with the reasons why he won’t release his tax returns … He said that makes him smart. Now, if not paying your taxes makes him smart, what does that make all the rest of us?” she said.
Mrs. Clinton said she’d leave it to the media and fact-checkers to sort through Mr. Trump’s statements, but said voters should take note that only one candidate seemed ready for the bright spotlight of a presidential debate.
“He made it clear he didn’t prepare for that debate,” she said of Mr. Trump.
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At another campaign rally in Toledo, Ohio, former President Bill Clinton also seemed pleased with the outcome of the debate.
“I was really proud of her last night,” he said.
• Ben Wolfgang can be reached at bwolfgang@washingtontimes.com.
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