Who won the first debate? Here's what they are saying

Who won the first presidential debate between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump? Well, that’s a good question.

If you look at online polls, Trump seems to have had the edge. If you look at media sites, Clinton gets the edge.

Ask undecided voters and they are all over the map.

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Here’s a look at what some media outlets are saying about who came out on top during the first  of three debates.

Clinton had a better night

The New York Times

“In the first showdown between Hillary Clinton and Donald J. Trump, the presidential candidates exchanged blows on trade and foreign policy, called each other racist and inept, and could not resist letting out stray smirks or occasional sniffles.

Commentators across the web on Monday night tended to conclude that their favored candidate had come out on top. But on balance, Mrs. Clinton was seen as having had the better night, based on the contrast between her steady grasp of policy and Mr. Trump’s tendency to ramble and occasionally raise his voice.”

The lawyer vs. the salesman

BBC

“It was a battle between the lawyer and the salesman, and for the most part the lawyer came out on top.

It may be hard to remember, but before Mrs Clinton was a secretary of state, or a senator or a first lady, she was a lawyer - and, by all regards, a talented one.

And after all these years, she still campaigns like one. Meticulous, cautious, controlled. What works in the courtroom, with its rules and customs, often doesn't fly in free-wheeling political debates, however.

Mr Trump, on the other hand, is the consummate salesman. Rules, tradition, even the truth are only relevant in so much as they help seal the deal.”

Online poll results

Time

“Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton met for their first presidential debate Monday, and we want to know who you think won.

A disclaimer: Online reader polls like this one are not statistically representative of likely voters, and are not predictive of the debate outcome will effect the election. They are a measure, however imprecise, of which candidates have the most energized online supporters, or most social media savvy fan base. After all, what they are counting is the number of Internet-devices controlled by people who want to vote.”

(Note: At 9 a.m.  (ET) Donald Trump led 54 to 46 percent)

The winner: Twitter and Facebook

USA Today

"So who won the debate? Social media, in a landslide.

While presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump slugged it out for 90 minutes, touching briefly on cybersecurity, Facebook and Twitter racked up huge numbers of posts and tweets, to borrow a favorite word from one of the debate participants.

Twitter spokesman Nick Pacilio called it the "most tweeted debate ever," though final numbers were not available yet. There were 10 million tweets during the first presidential debate in 2012, according to Twitter.

Who won: Ask Congress

“Immediately after the first presidential debate, congressional Democrats were elated.

House and Senate Democrats said unequivocally that their candidate had won the first face-off: Hillary Clinton, they said, came across as strong, presidential and well prepared.

Yes, that's the usual post-debate routine: Your party's candidate is always the winner. Unless you're a Republican, and your candidate is Donald Trump. A scan of GOP Twitter feeds from Capitol Hill after the debate ended revealed scant words of praise for Trump.”

A win for Clinton

 Fortune

“We ranked the candidates’ performances in Monday’s contest.

Hillary Clinton won. In the first and potentially most consequential presidential debate of 2016, the Democratic nominee presented as composed and commanding, ticking through her policy prescriptions while landing a series of devastating blows on Donald Trump’s record and readiness. A fidgety Trump meanwhile tried repeatedly to ruffle her with interruptions while riffing his way through his own answers, but struggled on both counts.

Trump arguably had his best moments in the opening section of the debate, which tends to be its most-watched portion. Drawing from his stump speech, he conjured an image of a blighted U.S., outsmarted by its trading partnersand abused by its own companies. He promised, with his trademark bluster and imprecision, to get tough on those responsible at home and abroad. “We have to stop our jobs from leaving,” he said, dismissing Clinton as a member of the entrenched political class that’s presided over an economic hollowing-out.”

Trump wins on Twitter

“Now that the first presidential debate is one for the books, here’s how the it unfolded on social media.  According to data released by Twitter, Donald Trump dominated Twittersphere. Sixty-two percent of Twitter conversation went to @realDonaldTrump compared to @HillaryClinton who claimed 38 percent.

The GOP nominee also outshined his Democratic rival in the top three most-Tweeted debate moments. The most discussed moment involved Trump’s description of his temperament.

“I think my strongest asset may be by far is my temperament,” he said at the first presidential debate at Hofstra University. “I have a winning temperament.”

Cox Media Group