Republican nominee Donald Trump declined to address Hillary Clinton as “Crooked Hillary” in the opening minutes of the first presidential debate of the election Monday night, pointedly referring to her as “Secretary Clinton” early on.
“Secretary Clinton, is that okay?” Trump asked, addressing Clinton for the first time in the debate. “I want you to be very happy.”
Clinton smiled gamely in response.
Trump came up with nicknames for most of his opponents in the Republican primary, notably labeling Republican Sen. Ted Cruz “lyin Ted” and Republican Sen. Marco Rubio as “little Rubio,” and later began referring to Clinton as “Crooked Hillary.”
Both candidates, however, made a concerted effort to come off as affable early on, as Trump worked to look more “presidential” to his critics and Clinton to avoid coming off as angry or condescending.
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