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High expectations for Clinton ahead of first debate

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks with “Today” show co-anchor Matt Lauer at the NBC Commander-In-Chief Forum held at the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space museum aboard the decommissioned aircraft carrier Intrepid, New York, Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2016.

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Overall, 53% of likely voters say they think the Democratic nominee will do a better job in the debates, while 43% expect her GOP rival to walk away the victor. The lone exception: George W. Bush during his re-election campaign in 2004, when 52% thought he would outperform John Kerry before their first debate.

Clinton pointed to the U.S. military code of honour, saying “that, Donald Trump, .is what we’re going to stand up and defend in the face of your outrageous, disgraceful attacks on the men and women of our armed forces”.

In July, the poll showed both Clinton and Trump at 48%.

Clinton criticized Trump’s comments about America’s generals, which he said had been “reduced to rubble”, and his praise for Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Reflecting the unusual nature of the campaign, two-thirds of voters say they’re more interested in watching the debates this year than in previous election cycles.

The watchdog group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington filed a complaint Wednesday with the IRS calling for an investigation into the Trump Foundation for violating the tax code by providing a private benefit to Trump and his business interests and falsely representing its political giving on its tax returns.

Clinton’s argument that Trump is ill-prepared to be commander in chief has been bolstered by a flood of Republican national security experts who are backing the Democratic nominee instead of their own party’s pick.

Hillary Clinton portrayed herself yesterday as a steely stateswoman ready to fend off the dangers facing the United States, as she denounced Republican rival Donald Trump as “unpatriotic” and unfit to lead.

Quinnipiac calls North Carolina “a garden of gender harmony” because the numbers are not as sharply divided with men voting for Trump and women voting for Clinton as they are in other states.

The poll tested public reaction to several recent critiques raised by the candidates against their opponents, which were highlighted in a presidential forum hosted by NBC last night and on the campaign trail Thursday.

Lauer’s performance sparked an unfortunate Twitter hashtag in #LaueringtheBar.

Clinton, 68, and Trump, 70, have clashed repeatedly over foreign policy, but their battle rose to a new level Wednesday night when the two were separately grilled over their national security credentials at a NY forum. The former secretary of state said that the use of the server was “a mistake” and that she would “certainly not do it again”.

“I think the economy is a much bigger problem as far as the president is concerned”, he said.

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The poll, which was conducted September 1-4, surveyed 1,001 adults, including 886 registered voters and 786 likely voters. The survey includes results among 886 registered voters and 786 likely voters.

Candidates Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton spoke with Today show co-anchor Matt Lauer at the NBC Commander-In-Chief Forum held at the Intrepid Sea Air and Space museum