I agree and noticed that too, its all downhill for him now

If there was a 1st debate effect, it was Hillary's impact. Trump was himself, the same guy the whole country has been subjected too all campaign long with live television coverage of his campaign.

Actually, both Clinton and Trump ultimately performed as expected, however, most watching were curious to see if Trump can be presidential in that first debate and his performance confirmed to everyone that Trump was/is always going to be Trump and there was no "pivoting". He was able to hold it together for 20-30 minutes but he did not have the "stamina"! Furthermore, was anyone really surprised by Clinton in that debate?

The main reason why I started this post is that I am oddly upset with all the right-wing/conservative/Republican/surrogates/commentators saying that the MSM is out to get Trump by dragging out all of these lying women, when all that it probably does is crystallize voter's opinion of Trump, ala, Romney's video about the 50% from 2012. After the election, the entire right-wing will blame the media for Trump's loss and will never accept how poorly he performed on the biggest stage.

relative to the Presidency and even relative to candidacy for such a position. You need a mind that works, and he lacks that.

Trump is only half decent at reality T-V after 90% of what he does is on the cutting room floor. He's been a failure as demonstrating he's presidential since his announcement speech calling Mexicans rapist.

In statistics we can never know, and I would argue the tape wouldn't have been released had it not been for 9/26. The tape also led to a disastrous 2nd debate for trump, notwithstanding the poor, unprofessional moderating (this isn't a political criticism of the moderators, but one on their performance alone).

Trump began his crash the moment the gavel closed the republican convention, and the Democrats became his adversary instead of the namby-pamby republicans. The disastrous debates and the scandalous tape only accelerated his collapse. It will be a sight to behold to witness the moment he augers in.

He got lucky or he would be living under the bridge

have destroyed himself much earlier in his lifetime. He'd have been the same tax evading, criminal groper no matter what his station in life. He's a failure that has squandered every penny that's passed through his hands.

He was never destined for success in anything, but wow, it's impressive he can fail in such an epic fashion, and it's entertaining in the very least.

Perhaps the bright side of the situation IS that he's exposed the weakness and flaws of the GOP for everyone to see, and perhaps, maybe, possibly, but doubtfully, we'll see a rise in character as potential candidates come of age. It would be such a relief for some people with character to get into GOP. It's not likely, but I am ever the cynical bitchy optimist.

[font color="navy" face="Verdana"]I think he's losing more and losing faster because of that and all the other nasty things that have been coming out about him since. It's an accelerating cumulative effect.

No question that the most watched debate had a significant impact. The shift in the polls back that up. But we also see a significant and sudden 2pt drop in the polls for him when the groper tape came out for example.

So I'm not buying it's "THE" reason.

Even within that debate, much of it was founded on positions taken or things that happened before the debate.