Many voters watching Wednesday night’s final presidential debate are anxious to see how Donald Trump will perform. The GOP nominee appeared more reserved in the first debate before taking the gloves off in his second televised face-off with Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton.
It’s not exactly clear which Trump will show up at the University of Nevada-Las Vegas for the final debate, to be moderated by Fox News' Chris Wallace — the match-up could reveal a more or less aggressive Trump or even a combination of the two — but with three weeks until the election, he certainly won't be pulling any punches.
Here are five Trump strategies for the must-win final debate:
1. Trump should appear contrite for his comments on women — Clinton's support among women remains a thorn in Trump's side, and he has a tendency to hit back when attacked, which can seem to the audience like he’s losing control, notes Dan Balz in The Washington Post. When the issue of the "Access Hollywood" tape or the groping allegations come up at the final debate, Trump must convey true remorse and contrition.
2. Trump should avoid bashing any of his accusers — Trump should not brush off the groping allegations or speak negatively about any of the women who have come forward, or else he could risk appearing hypocritical. Remember, he has attacked Hillary Clinton for her alleged dealings with her husband's accusers, and he appeared at a news conference with those women ahead of the second debate.
When the allegations against him come up, Trump needs to avoid looking defiant or angry while highlighting his positive relationships with women in business.
3. Trump should pivot back to policy and stay on-message — Trump should try and stay away from the mudslinging and personal attacks by pivoting back to policy whenever possible— his proposal to build a wall and stem the flow of illegal immigrants from Mexico, his stances on Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid, Supreme Court justices, the economy, etc.
4. He should focus on legitimate criticism of the establishment — Instead of bringing up charges of a “rigged” voting system or media collusion with the Clinton campaign, Trump should focus on the real problems people have with the Washington, D.C., establishment, such as economic concerns and international trade, according to The Wall Street Journal's Gerald F. Seib. Whether he is right or wrong on voter fraud or media bias, Trump needs to stay away from complaining about the system and instead highlight a message about the future that has appealed to many voters.
5. Trump should avoid bickering with the moderator — As with his criticism of previous moderators, Trump’s combative nature could emphasize his reputation for imploding. Trump might face difficult questions from moderator Wallace, who told him in a GOP primary debate that his proposed policies “don’t add up,” according to Vox. Rather than targeting the questioner, Trump needs to stay on topic and explain his positions to show he can face any challenges as president.
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