Clinton, Trump go head to head in high stakes presidential debate

Updated: 2016-09-27 08:42

(Agencies)

Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump holds a rally with supporters in Aston, Pennsylvania, US September 22, 2016.  [Photo/Agencies]

The size of the television-viewing audience is expected to challenge the record of 80 million Americans who watched 1980's encounter between Democratic President Jimmy Carter and Republican Ronald Reagan. Some commentators forecast Super Bowl-sized viewership of about 100 million people.

By contrast with the single-party debates held during the Republican and Democratic state nominating contests, the audience will be asked to remain silent and not applaud or respond to the candidates' remarks. The debate will be divided into six 15-minute segments.

Clinton won a coin toss and chose to take the first question. She will have two minutes to answer, after which Trump will be given equal time. Trump will then be given the first question at the beginning of the next segment.

The debate, at Hofstra University on New York state's Long Island, is the first of three planned presidential debates and one vice presidential debate.