Margaret Carlson, Columnist

Clinton Proves It Pays to Prepare

By questioning his opponent's stamina, Trump provided the opening for her to remind voters of his vulnerabilities with women.

September 27, 2016 at 6:25 PM UTC

By Margaret Carlson

Margaret Carlson was a White House correspondent for Time, a weekly panelist on CNN’s “Capital Gang” and an editor at the New Republic.

The Super Bowl of politics.
Photographer: Drew Angerer/Getty Images

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On the biggest stage in politics, Hillary Clinton did to Donald Trump what 16 men failed to do in the primaries: She took command from the moment she strode over to shake Trump’s hand. In 2000, Representative Rick Lazio lost the New York Senate debate when he invaded her personal space. When she invaded Trump’s space, she set herself up for a win.

Have times finally changed? Not really. Clinton still needs to work twice as hard for half the gains of a man, while obscuring her ambition and being pleasant. How many times has Trump been told he just has to be more likeable? Clinton was plenty appealing as she ate his lunch Monday night. It’s Trump who should have taken Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus’ patronizing advice to smile more.