Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton supporters gathered at Dublin Square Monday night to watch the presidential debate. Attendees of the event, hosted by Hillary for Michigan, were uncertain before the debate began.
Everyone in attendance was affiliated with Hillary for Michigan in some way.
“I hope Hillary wins it — I’ve been for her since ‘08,” Lansing resident Meg Rumfield said. “I think anything can happen.”
Some supporters were more explicit about their fears for the debate.
“I just had to take this with beer,” Dave Cerutti said.
@thesnews Hillary for MI's debate watch party at Dublin Square has bingo sheets for supporters pic.twitter.com/V6uGWMD4eE
— Brigid Kennedy (@Brigid_Mary) September 27, 2016
Sen. Curtis Hertel (D-Meridian Township) took care to warn the audience that Donald Trump is a good debater. In spite of that, he said he had high expectations of the debate.
"We have a responsibility to fight back against all those lies,” Hertel said.
@thesnews "I have some pretty high expectations," Senator Hertel said about tonight's debate pic.twitter.com/r4XyIiB659
— Brigid Kennedy (@Brigid_Mary) September 27, 2016
Campaign organizers walked around the room collecting signatures on forms that read, “I commit to vote for Hillary”.
“If I had to call it, I’d say Trump is going be rude and crude but he’s not going to fly off the handle,” Sean Douglass said.
Supporters in Dublin Square mocked Trump throughout the debate, referencing the size of his hands and his speech patterns.
“He said a lot of things that are just not OK,” campus organizer Aaron Stephens said after the debate.
Stephens elaborated on Trump's statements in the debate, including the stop and frisk policies.
“It happens to me, it happens to my family on a daily basis,” Stephens said.
The debate encouraged many people at the event to sign up to volunteer with Hillary for Michigan.
@thesnews crowd at Dublin Square reacts to debate abt. Trump's rhetoric towards women pic.twitter.com/MEJpAvPM6g
— Brigid Kennedy (@Brigid_Mary) September 27, 2016
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“I think as usual, Hillary Clinton was clear with insightful policies and ideas," campaign volunteer Elisabeth Simmons said. "Donald Trump was, as usual, ridiculous."
Supporters and campaigners left Dublin Square feeling just as unsure as they’d felt before the debate.
“If that was in charge,” Stephens said of Trump. “I wouldn’t want to live in this country.”
