NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — As Belmont University takes down the fences and tents that helped house their debate, NewsChannel 5's Political Analyst Pat Nolan is busy unpacking what he saw on stage Thursday night.
"Actually having a conversation rather than a food fight," Nolan said about the candidates.
He praised both Pres. Trump and former Vice President Biden for mostly following the rules and having an engaging discussion about their ideas. "I thought both of them gave pretty strong performances and their bases are very thrilled," he said.
Nolan noted two takes by each candidate that could hurt each of them with undecided voters. For Vice President Biden, it was his pledge to end the U.S.'s dependence on oil and gasoline.
"Biden said last night about him moving away from the use of fossil fuels, maybe something he’ll try to use in the battleground states that are dependent on the use of fossil fuels," said Nolan.
For President Trump, it was his optimistic take on COVID-19 being nearly defeated, when nationwide numbers are showing the opposite.
"Maybe the President thinks people are so unhappy and tired of the virus that they’re going to go ahead and vote for somebody like that -- but others will see that being as sort of reckless and not make them want to vote for him," he said.
But Nolan also pointed out it might be too little too late. "
I think this far along in the campaign, and with 50 million people having already basically voted, it would be hard to turn the trajectory of this race around much," said Nolan.
The biggest winner of the debate may be the Belmont students who got the opportunity of a lifetime.
"It was a dream come true,' said Georgia McKee, a student volunteer at Belmont.
In an era when a lot of people are avoiding politics, the senior at Belmont can't get enough. "I think it really hit me when the candidates walked on stage. It’s just like wow, we’re here, this is happening," said McKee.
She went through a rigorous process to be selected as an usher working inside the debate hall. "Just to be able to seat people, to have light conversations with some of the greatest political leaders in the world. It was really awesome," she said.
So while the pundits and workers deconstruct what happened in Nashville, Georgia hopes it helps build what she does next.
"Just to see the type of people who were in the room. People who have the jobs I may want to have one day. It was such a surreal experience," said McKee.
