The candidates took to the debate stage on Sunday night hoping to win over voters with their performance. But the debate did not get many positive reviews on the streets of New York the following day. NY City Lens asked New Yorkers for their reactions to the second presidential debate.
Jeri Hilderley, 79, Riverside Park, artist
Jeri Hilderley
“I thought it was going to be a circus, but it turned out to be a horror show. I am in awe of what Hillary had to suffer. I was active in the women’s liberation movement in the 1970s. We fought all these things that are oppressing Hillary. I think the American people deserve better than this belligerent contest.”
Luis Infantas, 50, Clifton, New Jersey, sales manager
Luis Infantas
“Words do matter and we’re forgetting about that. It’s a sad day in American politics when the issues aren’t the main agenda. I believe this election is about snap shots and put downs. It’s like a reality show. The bar was set so low for Trump so that just coming and talking to an audience was a win for him and that’s sad.”
Christina Masters, 49, Scarsdale, researcher
Christina Masters
“The moment of surprise for me was when Donald Trump had something positive to say about Hillary Clinton — that she is a fighter. His response seemed very honest and true. It seemed that was the one question in the debate that was quickly asked and answered.”
George Villamagna, 57, Upper West Side, teacher
George Villamagna
“Hillary, with all her flaws, is a typical presidential candidate. I don’t see her as any different than John McCain or Barack Obama or anybody else that’s been a standard nominee in modern history. But so Trump is a reflection of some of the worst part of who we are as Americans.”
Anthony Huger, 33, Bronx, sales associate
Anthony Huger
“Trump made me mad at some points. But he’s just feeding into what everyone wants to hear. And that’s how he’s running his campaign. Our children will be dealing with our new president. Now we may have a female president and when the kids study in school it will be something written in history, and they’ll read about the first female president.”
Maria Loja, 45, Patchogue, Long Island, shoe shiner
Maria Loja
“At least Hillary says something about what she’ll do for the country. And Trump, all he has are his defects. We pay taxes. What kind of example is he if he doesn’t pay taxes?”
Reno Corinthos, 34, Harlem, public safety officer
Reno Corinthos
“What political experience does Donald Trump have? None. How can you have a man lead your country and he doesn’t have a political background? How? He’s never been a senator, he’s never been a mayor. He has no understanding of politics. That’s like the blind leading the blind. I just urge people just to be smart.”
Kori Wilson, 33, Washington Heights, bookstore manager
Kori Wilson
“It’s always the big things like war or the budget that gets more focus. But us people, working class people, small business owners, we want to be more directly connected with the issues. That’s why I’m more concerned about voting more for the local level politicians – the governors, the mayors, the senators – that actually move legislation along and hear the people that are in their communities.”
Tina Marquez, 27, Yonkers, eyewear shop employee
Tina Marquez
“This whole debate has been a reality show. It was like the worst debate of the history. Presidential debate like this, I just think it’s a shame. It was just like eye to eye, and toe to toe. I don’t think there’s really a winner.”
Jonathan Platt, 39, Upper West Side, professor
Jonathan Platt
“It looks like Trump is just going to disintegrate but that might even be more scary than if he wins, because his supporters are going to be upset you know. And there’s a lot of them and they’re scary people for the most part, so I don’t know. American democracy has been sick for a long time.”
— Margie Merritt, Hillary Marie Ojeda, Joshua Oliver, Preeti Singh, Courtney Vinopal, Bernadette Young, and Yuqing Zhu
