Bouts of applause and shouts of disdain echoed through the Nomad World Pub on Sept. 26 as a crowd of Minnesotans gathered to watch Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump take each other head-on in their first debate.
The watch party, hosted by Minnesota Public Radio, kicked election season into full swing as the debaters sparred with spirited one-liners and heated discussions. The event was hosted to continue MPR’s coverage of the election, which is starting to gain steam headed into October.
“NPR News has been following the political coverage all season as it’s been heating up, and it just kind of seemed like a natural fit,” said MPR Marketing Specialist Bethany Barberg.
Dozens of people packed the pub and its patio to get their first glimpse of the candidates going head-to-head. Viewers also had the chance to play political trivia and presidential bingo.
An energetic atmosphere buzzed in the time leading up to the debate, and it stayed that way at some of the key moments of the night. Sporadic quips and laughter at the controversial statements were littered throughout the evening, along with shouts of approval.
The crowd acted how Barberg expected. Speaking before the debate, she said she predicted a “lively, engaged and fun crowd.”
St. Thomas students attended the viewing for a variety of reasons, including the possibility of being around people with differing beliefs during a political event. Senior Sam Duncanson, one of the handful of Tommies at the pub, believes this is important, especially during election season.
“Nothing would get done if people didn’t listen to each other. It’s important to hear the other side because in my opinion the best decisions are made when all viewpoints are considered,” he said.
Senior Tony Hren agreed, but wished the crowd would have been a little more diverse in terms of political beliefs—Clinton supporters outnumbered Trump supporters at the pub by a large margin. He still thought it was a worthwhile experience.
“I was hoping for more of a mixed bag. Nevertheless, I’m glad I went. It was interesting being part of that environment,” he said.
The debate was the first chance to see the two candidates spar over the issues. They discussed their past experience, issues of race, and fiscal plans among other topics. The event was an opportunity for voters to reach some conclusions of their own.
For many St. Thomas students, this will be the first presidential election for which they are able to vote. That makes paying attention to the race even more important.
“It’s vital to keep up with the race to make sure that my decision is informed,” Hren said. “Last election I didn’t pay as much attention, but this time around I’ve been staying up to date.”
As the chilly days of October approach, only a little over a month is left until Election Day is here on Nov. 8.
Barberg said MPR plans to have similar events for future debates, but nothing has been formalized yet. The next presidential debate is on Oct. 9.
Spencer Flaten can be reached at flat6148@stthomas.edu