Round two to nobody

The second US presidential debate underwhelms

The only consolation that Donald Trump, Republican nominee for the US presidential elections, can draw from the outcome of the second debate with his Democratic opponent, Hillary Clinton, is that it is not the kind of severe setback for his campaign that the first was. He managed to salvage a bit of his campaign, which in itself is a remarkable comeback for somebody whose video tape remarks about groping women earned him the rancour and "disgust" of quite a few Republicans. It's clear Ms Clinton will have to keep striving hard to turn the clear lead that she has in opinion polls into a victory. As for the debate itself, it was nasty and personal and will be of no help to those US voters who are still trying to make up their minds. The debate drew a bit closer to real issues when Mr Trump said he would try to send Ms Clinton to jail for her private emails, to which she said she was glad someone like Mr Trump was not in charge of the country's law enforcement. Mr Trump's position on the losses he incurred in his business and his unwillingness to make available his tax returns remained where they were, taking him no closer to being seen as a leader who could exhort his countrymen to honestly pay taxes.

If despite being found so lacking on issues, Mr Trump retains his support among his core followers then it is for two reasons. One, white male non-graduate American workers, whose candidate he is foremost, are fuelled by a resentment over their inability to improve their lot contrary to the years of postwar prosperity that shaped American life, as it is known to be. What is more, these supporters of Mr Trump blame their lot on recent immigrants and he agrees with them, pointing to how racially and ethnically divisive his campaign has turned out to be. Since the resentment over being economically left behind stretches right across the US middle class and way beyond its borders, a point underlined by none other than the International Monetary Fund's chief, the next president of the US will have the herculean task of restoring robust economic growth and a degree of equity in its distribution in the US.

All this brings us to the point that Ms Clinton scores infinitely better in assuring the rest of the world of being able to provide a stable and informed leadership to the US which has benefits for all. For India, which has hitched its foreign policy stance to the US in seeking to avoid being pressured by China, Ms Clinton offers some hope of continuity and business as usual, if not inspired initiative. In fact, Ms Clinton's main problem, despite being clearly in the lead in the campaign, is that her persona is so underwhelming. She is expected not to make trouble for Wall Street though many of the world's troubles - missing growth and unequal distribution of its fruits - are traceable to bond vigilantes' fear of deficits and stock holders stealing the worker's lunch. As for trying to lead the world out of conflicts in West Asia and the global spread of terrorism, even less is expected. Ms Clinton is sure to win, but all that can be said in support of it is that it will thankfully keep out of the White House a near atrocity.