SAN ANGELO, Texas — Headline: West Texans react to the first 2020 presidential debate
Abstract: Members from the Democratic and Republican party shared their thoughts on the presidential debate.
Tuesday, Sept. 29, in Ohio was the first debate of three for the presidential candidacy.
President Donald Trump and former Vice President and Democratic nominee Joe Biden took center stage as the two clashed in front of the American people.
The people of San Angelo, like the rest of the country, sat and watched the debate, and they shared their initial thoughts on the entire event.
"Overall impression was that this debate will be remembered more because of style, the arguing, over talking and interruptions than on substance," Tom Green County Democratic Member Jane Rider said.
Tom Green County Republican member David Nowlin shared his thoughts on the debate Tuesday night, as well.
"I was disappointed from the very start. It seemed like they started compared to a heavyweight fighters," Nowlin said. "They just came out slugging punches and if they weren't taking."
The debate touched on issues such as COVID-19, social unrest, the economy and the Supreme Court.
Both Nowlin and Rider expressed opinions on how the candidates did discussing these points.
"I think our citizens would appreciate more detail on what each candidate is looking at for health care," Rider said. "That's important to a lot of people and also what strategies they want to use besides a vaccine to control COVID."
"I think they should have addressed the point where Trump was asked to denounce extremists on the right, and Biden was asked to denounce Antifa and BLM," Nowlin said.
With two more debates before election time, Nowlin and Rider shared what they want to see discussed moving forward.
"Texas has a large border and we have immigrants coming across and we have people living in the United States that want to become citizens," Rider said.
"Well, the truth is, I'd like them to start over again," Nowlin said. "Answer the questions, slow down and both of you talk and rebut each other properly."
The next debate is set for Oct. 15 in Miami.