Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, left, stands with Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton at the first presidential debate at Hofstra University, Monday, Sept. 26, 2016, in Hempstead, N.Y. AP Photo
HEMPSTEAD, United States鈥擧illary Clinton and Donald Trump bickered and traded insults in a fiery US presidential debate Monday, as they aggressively pitched their case to tens of millions of American voters.
With the White House rivals in a dead heat six weeks before election day, Clinton from the get-go painted her Republican rival as out of touch and having a tenuous relationship with the truth, willing to say 鈥渃razy things鈥� to get elected.
鈥淵ou live in your own reality鈥� said the 68-year old Democrat, who accused Trump of launching his political career on a 鈥渞acist lie鈥� 鈥� the birther conspiracy theory that questioned President Barack Obama鈥檚 citizenship.
READ: Clinton, Trump spar over plans for US economy
Trump, who faces tough questions about his suitability for the Oval Office, started out with a more restrained tone 鈥� he even ditched his red power tie for a more statesmanlike blue.
But he quickly went on the offensive, repeatedly interrupting Clinton with verbal jabs.
READ: At each other from the start: Clinton, Trump debate
The celebrity businessman branded Clinton a 鈥渢ypical politician. All talk, no action. Sounds good, doesn鈥檛 work.鈥�
In feisty exchanges on the economy, Trump reprised the themes that have catalyzed his improbable campaign, blaming Clinton and the political class for losing jobs to Mexico and China through bad trade deals.
鈥淥ur country is suffering because people like secretary Clinton have made such bad decisions in terms of our jobs and in terms of what鈥檚 going on,鈥� he said.
He demanded Clinton 鈥� a former secretary of state, first lady and US senator 鈥� account for her time in government: 鈥淵ou鈥檝e been doing this for 30 years. Why are you just thinking about these solutions right now? For 30 years, you鈥檝e been doing it.鈥�
Clinton responded by accusing Trump of having 鈥渟tiffed鈥� small businesses throughout his business career.
Demanding Trump release his taxes, in keeping with election custom, she accused him of backing an economic platform amounting to 鈥渢he most extreme鈥� package of tax cuts for the wealthy in US history.
鈥淚 call it trumped up trickle-down, because that鈥檚 exactly what it would be,鈥� she quipped.
Trump said he would release his tax returns, 鈥渨hen she releases her 33,000 e-mails that have been deleted,鈥� alluding to the Democrat鈥檚 use of a private email server as secretary of state.
Super Bowl of politics
This Super Bowl of politics took place at Hofstra University on Long Island, a mere 60-minute drive from Manhattan and chaired by NBC Nightly 黑料社 anchor Lester Holt.
This first 2016 presidential debate could be pivotal in deciding whether Clinton will become the first woman president, or if Trump can pull off the greatest upset in US political history.
When the celebrity businessman launched his campaign in June 2015, bookmakers put his odds at 100/1 and he was roundly mocked.
But the 70-year-old weathered allegations of bigotry and sexism to triumph in a vicious Republican primary campaign.
He now has a real shot at being sworn in as the 45th president of the United States on January 20.
Six weeks out from election day the polls have tightened to a virtual dead heat.
Trump鈥檚 biggest handicap may be accusations that he has a weak grasp of policy 鈥� which he sought to counter by accusing his rival of sowing chaos in the Middle East during her tenure as secretary of state.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a total mess, under your direction, to a large extent,鈥� Trump said.
But he appeared on shaky ground as he defended his refusal to reveal his plan for defeating the Islamic State group.
鈥淵ou鈥檙e telling the enemy everything you want to do. No wonder you鈥檝e been fighting ISIS your entire adult life,鈥� he said of the group that only came to prominence in the last decade.
Clinton 鈥� perhaps the most qualified presidential candidate since George Bush senior or Dwight Eisenhower 鈥� has a massive organizational advantage, a bigger campaign warchest, a lead in the popular vote and is in a notably stronger position state-by-state.
But she remains deeply unpopular. In a country split 50/50 between Democrats and Republicans, only 40 percent of voters say they have a favorable view of her.
In the last two presidential elections, young, black, Hispanic and Asian-American voters turned out in record numbers for Obama.
Clinton鈥檚 campaign has struggled so far to match that level of enthusiasm.
Only 47 percent of voters aged 18 to 34 say they will definitely vote this time round, that is down from 74 percent when Obama was first elected./rga