Politics

Wild presidential debates have proved pivotal

Preparations were underway Tuesday at the debate site, at the University of Nevada Las Vegas. Mark Ralston/AFP/Getty Images

LAS VEGAS — On paper, these debates are called presidential. In reality, they have been everything but.

They have featured eye-rolling, smirking, stalking, pointing, grimacing, interrupting. Sexually explicit allegations have been front and center, and substance has been scarce.

Presidential? Maybe if the job in question were president of World Wrestling Entertainment.

But as negative and divisive as these historically contentious face-offs have been, observers — backed up by polls — say they have been the most pivotal in decades in helping voters determine the outcome of a White House contest.

The final encounter Wednesday offers Donald Trump a final chance to salvage his campaign, and tilt the odds back in his favor.

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