Pressure is on Democrat Hillary Clinton this evening to meet expectations as she and Republican Donald Trump finally go head-to-head in a debate.
Clinton supporters will gather at 7 p.m. at the Irish Embassy Pub in Durango to see if the former secretary of state can live up to her reputation as a talented debater. Local Republicans do not have any watch parties planned in La Plata County.
The debate could be a pivotal election moment, as the two candidates battle to convince millions of undecided voters that they are worthy of their vote.
A new CNN/ORC poll released Monday has Clinton and Trump in a statistical tie in battleground Colorado. Likely voters break 42 percent for Trump, 41 percent for Clinton, 13 percent for Libertarian Gary Johnson and 3 percent for Green Party candidate Jill Stein.
But a more state-specific poll released last week by Colorado Mesa University and Rocky Mountain PBS gives Clinton a 9-point advantage over Trump, which shrinks to a 7-point advantage when all four major candidates are included.
The Clinton campaign in Colorado says polling has not impacted strategy, which is relying heavily on activating a Democratic network for canvassing and phone banking.
Republicans believe Clinton has more to lose during the debate.
“Trump hasn’t been running for president for 24 years, he’s spent his career as a successful businessman. Few are expecting the same level of polish from a verbal gunslinger whose rhetorical strength is speaking to the heart – and the gut – of the American people,” writes Sean Spicer, chief strategist for the Republican National Committee, in an RNC memo.
“With so much riding on this moment and a wealth of experience working in her favor, Hillary Clinton has no excuse not to turn in a near-flawless performance.”
Travis Oliger, chairman of La Plata County Republicans, was an early Trump supporter, though he cast his support for Ted Cruz at the April state convention, as the majority of his constituents were in the Cruz camp.
Cruz last week shocked observers when he reversed course, backing Trump for president, despite encouraging a coup against Trump at the July Republican National Convention. Colorado delegates helped organize the attempted coup, and Cruz offered fodder by not endorsing Trump at the time.
Oliger acknowledged that Trump has largely run outside the party, but he doesn’t feel like that serves as a disadvantage.
“I’ve just been impressed by the fact that nobody but the people have supported him,” Oliger said of Trump. “He’s not getting support from either party – it was just the people.”
The Clinton camp in Colorado, however, says she continues to effectively “contrast her policies with Trump’s dangerous rhetoric.”
pmarcus@durangoherald.com