As Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton went head-to-head in the first of three presidential debates Monday, hundreds gathered around Gainesville and UF, glued to television sets as the candidates spoke over each other and vied for the nation’s trust.
Lester Holt, a news anchor for “NBC Nightly News,” moderated the debate, which was hosted at Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York. Holt chose three topics, “America’s Direction,” “Achieving Prosperity” and “Securing America,” to dis- cuss.
On campus, about 150 people cheered as they watched a livestream of the debate in the Reitz Union Auditorium.
At the watch party, hosted by the UF College Democrats and For Our Future, about half of the attendees waved pro-Clinton signs, with some reading, “Love Trumps Hate” and “Stronger Together.”
As Clinton and Trump appeared on screen, cheers and boos occurred simultaneously. Trump’s comments were met with swearing; Clinton’s replies were met with claps.
Anastasia Regnier, 18, who attended the watch party, said one of her favorite moments was watching Clinton mock Trump’s economic plan, which she called a faulty version of Reagan’s trickle-down economics.
“Trumped-up, trickle down economics is beautiful,” the UF international relations freshman said. “It’s a good way of showing that it really doesn’t work, and it’s making fun of it, too,” she said.
Downtown, at a watch party held at the Hippodrome State Theatre, John Malanchuk sipped red wine and clapped when Clinton mentioned her environmental policies.
He said he tuned in at the Hippodrome because he doesn’t have cable at home.
“This debate is can’t-miss,” Malanchuk said. “I’m just gonna try to keep my mouth shut and not get too emotional.”
He was one of about 100 people gathered under red-and-blue lights in the basement of the Hippodrome to watch the de- bate and sip red-, white- and blue-colored vodka drinks from the bar.
During the debate, the crowded room was almost silent, and some sat cross- legged on the floor.
Stacie Danahy, the director of public programs at the Hippodrome, said she was excited by the turnout. She made two trips to the storage closet to get extra chairs.
“People seem so focused,” she said. “We want people to talk, to engage with each other and exchange ideas. Maybe after they get a few of our specialty drinks in them.”
As David Hogan and Cassie Lyle, 23, sat quietly at a table in the back of the room, Hogan said he was enjoying the political atmosphere.
“I’ve never watched a debate with an audience like this, but I think politics are very personal,” the 29-year-old said. “As long as people keep their mouths shut about their opinions, I’ll be OK.”
In the thick of the debate, a group of more than 50 people at Gainesville House of Beer drank every time Clinton feigned a smile and when Trump said just about any- thing. When Clinton accused Trump of not paying federal taxes, he said it made him smart, and the room erupted in bellowing laughter.
The downtown bar has made hosting debate watch party drinking games a tradition since 2008, said general manager Alex Whelpton. This year, the rules of the game — created by radio host Mark Kaye — included drinking at every mention of “The Wall” or “China” from Trump and at every Clinton cough or mention of her daughter Chelsea.
For Jake Crowns, a 37-year-old Gainesville resident, the debate was purely entertainment.
He said this year’s election is like an episode of the sitcom “Seinfeld.” He said he would rather watch the debates live with a drink than through social media and news clips, which would be too overwhelming.
“This election is like an embarrassing uncle who brings his stripper girlfriend to dinner,” Crowns said. “I want to hear what they have to say, have a drink and laugh at the people who are going to run the country.”
