EXPERT ANALYSIS AND DIAGRAMS BELOW. READ WITH CARE:
Donald Trump was “menacingly stalking” Hillary Clinton during the second presidential debate on Sunday night, according to top Clinton spokesman Brian Fallon.
Brian Fallon, in spin room, calls out Trump for "menacingly stalking" Clinton on stage
— Liz Kreutz (@ABCLiz) October 10, 2016
Hillary Clinton apparently made similar remarks during a conversation with reporters on her campaign plan following the debate.
Hillary on her plane talking about Donald in her space on the stage. She was in his space all night!!! #debate
— ★Chandra Christine★ (@Chandra461) October 10, 2016
Some Hillary supporters watching the debate agreed that Trump had violated Hillary’s personal space on the debate stage.
seeing Trump's hands & mic appearing in Hillary's split screen is so disconcerting and shows how much he's invading her space #Debates2016
— Erika W. Smith (@erikawynn) October 10, 2016
Trump was a predator just stalking Hillary tonight. Pacing behind her nonstop. Creepy. Breathing down her throat. In her space. Cringe
— Lea Black (@LeaBlackMiami) October 10, 2016
While Trump supporters cried foul, saying it was Hillary who was the one not minding her boundaries.
You're full of shit #Hillary. #Trump did not "loom" over you. You kept walking into his space.
— MAGA Mom (@RepublicanGal9) October 10, 2016
You are delusional#Trump never left HIS area#Hillary invaded His space
He didn't retreat from HER aggression https://t.co/wiryZAZNV5— Our Sacred Honor (@evelynyeager70) October 10, 2016
A recent analysis by Heat Street’s in-house soccer analysts, our resident referees on spacial theatre, suggests Hillary might well have been the one intruding on Donald Trump’s “safe space” on the debate stage. You can click on the image to make it bigger:
Here is an aerial view of the same important analysis:
What do you think?
The “stalking” charges from Hillary’s campaign are not surprising, because it’s not the first time she has accused a political opponent of violating her personal space.
Hillary’s supporters said the same thing about Rick Lazio, Hillary’s GOP challenger during her campaign for U.S. Senate in 2000. Lazio confronted Clinton during one of their debates in a stunt to get her to sign a campaign finance pledge.
It backfired, badly. Lazio was accused of violating Clinton’s “personal space” during the debate, and of trying to exert his male dominance over a female opponent.
Some credit this moment and the fallout, which was widely covered in the press, for helping Hillary secure the election (watch here).
Will the “personal space” argument work for Hillary this time around? Stay tuned.
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