“You shut your mouth when you’re talking to me.” So goes the line from the classic American film “Wedding Crashers.” A line that I took to heart as I watched a good chunk of Monday night’s presidential debate on mute.
Why? Not because I couldn’t bear to hear what the candidates said. Instead, I wanted to analyze the nonverbals (which go a long way to determining likability) without distraction. Yes, optics matter.
What I didn’t expect was NBC’s decision to broadcast the debate via split screen for 90 minutes. Even if I wanted to, I couldn’t look away. I was granted the opportunity to observe the good, the bad, and the ugly at 200 percent zoom.
And if a split-screen can’t stop, won’t stop, it’s more difficult to know what to do with your face/body when you are NOT speaking than when you ARE.
Here’s the breakdown of who won the nonverbal debate. Hint: The winner in the nonverbal category usually wins overall.
Facial expression
Eye contact, whether you’re speaking or listening, signals strength, confidence, control. Further, any additional eye movement will be exaggerated when everyone else’s eyes are on you.
Remember the Sarah Palin wink? In the blink of an eye (pun intended), she polarized voters — some found it endearing and others wanted to vote for anyone else. That wink maybe communicated more about her to the voters than her actual words. Beware the kitsch and don’t wink on the campaign trail. Got it.
Good eye contact has typically been a hallmark of Hillary Clinton’s debate performances. However, last night’s 90-minute split screen showed that it’s hard to stare into the eyes of the enemy and not get caught. Also, compounding her tendency to condescend, Clinton’s side eye did not help her in her quest to seem less patronizing.
While holding an unbroken gaze is typically not an issue for Clinton, for Donald Trump, the struggle is real. Trump’s constant squinting came across as tired and it was clear that looking around at the audience, camera and moderator was easier.
Trump’s usually pursed mouth was unusually relaxed. But his calmer demeanor made him seem tired — more so than the pneumatic Hillary Clinton. We will give him this — Trump’s #duckface was on point.
Heading into last night’s debate, the pundits recommended Clinton smile more to appear more likable. This led to cries of “sexism!” but last night her attempts to laugh and smile seemed canned and condescending. This leads us to the following conclusion: No matter her facial expressions, Clinton just isn’t very likable.
Body language
Let’s talk hands. Without John Kasich and Bernie Sanders, this debate didn’t provide as many wild gestures. Nevertheless, Trump and Clinton made a few missteps — both chopped, both pointed and rarely (if ever?) did a circular hand gesture get screen time.
The chopping and pointing create distance between the candidates and the audience, which you never want to do. Those motions scream: “I will talk at you, not with you.”
Just as hands tell a story, so does posture. Clinton was great, per usual. She didn’t lean on the podium, she didn’t shift her weight. She stood strong and in control. The only new (and unwelcome move) was her shoulder shrug towards the end. Shoulder shrugs are a no-no, especially when talking about voters and what you will do for them.
Trump was typical Trump. His posture has never been great, and last night was no exception. He leaned on the podium, he shifted his weight, and he slouched. Poor posture signals weakness and seems to say “I don’t have time for this.” Imagine the leadership potential voters could envision for Trump if he just stood tall.
Moral of the story? As if we couldn’t forget, the 90-minute split screen’s coverage reminded us that Trump and Clinton are our presidential choices.
For round one, the winner is in the eye of the undecided voter. Clinton did what was expected and Trump did better than predicted. While Trump doesn’t match Clinton’s robotic poise, he was better than his usual. For some, that might be a win.
Beverly Hallberg is president of District Media Group. Thinking of submitting an op-ed to the Washington Examiner? Be sure to read our guidelines on submissions.
