Trump, Clinton reflect on debate performances, return to campaign trail

Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump and Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton are introduced during the presidential debate at Hofstra University in Hempstead, N.Y., Monday, Sept. 26, 2016. (AP Photo/David Goldman)
Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump and Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton are introduced during the presidential debate at Hofstra University in Hempstead, N.Y., Monday, Sept. 26, 2016. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. — A day after their first presidential debate, Donald Trump accused the moderator of going harder on him while Hillary Clinton says she was "thrilled" with how it went.

After brushing off Clinton's debate claim that he'd once shamed a former Miss Universe winner for her weight, Trump continued on the point Tuesday morning.

"She gained a massive amount of weight. It was a real problem. We had a real problem," Trump told Fox and Friends about the 1996 winner of the pageant he once owned.

[FULL DEBATE STORY: Jabs by Clinton, Trump go personal in first debate]

Clinton, meanwhile, told reporters on her campaign plane she had a "great, great time" and was "thrilled" by how it went. She accused Trump of making "demonstrably untrue" claims in the debate and mocked him for floating the possibility that debate organizers had set him up by lowering the volume on his "terrible" microphone so he was quieter than Clinton.

"Anybody who's complaining about the microphone is not having a good night," Clinton said.

Trump and Clinton are locked in an exceedingly close race and competing vigorously to win over undecided voters.

Though he said on Twitter he had "really enjoyed" the debate, Trump accused moderator Lester Holt of a left-leaning performance and going harder on him than Clinton. He insisted he had "no sniffles" and no allergies despite the speculation on social media.

[INTERACTIVE + VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS: First presidential debate]

Trump said he'd gotten the better of Clinton, awarding her a C-plus while declining to assign himself a grade. He also threatened to go harder after her in the next debate and said he'd planned to assail President Bill Clinton for his "many affairs" and stopped himself solely because daughter Chelsea Clinton had been in the room.

Both candidates returned promptly to the trail, with Clinton campaigning Tuesday in North Carolina and Trump in Florida. Those are among a handful of toss-up states whose winners could help determine the outcome of the election.

Clinton and Trump are slated to face each again Oct. 9 in St. Louis. Asked about the possibility Trump could pull out, Clinton said she'd show up regardless.

"If I'm the only person onstage, well, you know, I'm the only person onstage," she said.

Read Wednesday's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for full details.

[FULL DEBATE STORY: Jabs by Clinton, Trump go personal in first debate]

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