EVERETT — As Democrat Hillary Clinton and Republican Donald Trump dueled fiercely on a stage in Hempstead, New York, on Monday, dozens of their passionate fans gathered to watch at parties in Snohomish and Lynnwood.
In Lynnwood, Democrats congregated at the Tacos Guaymas restaurant. Their viewing party featured a taco bar, bingo games using debate buzz words and a raffle for a Trump pinata. A “Hillary” shirt had been draped on a cardboard cut-out of the Dos Equis man.
Roughly 90 Republicans watched the event on a big screen television inside a hangar at Harvey Field in Snohomish. They munched on fruit, cheese, bread and desserts, and some bought red t-shirts emblazoned with “Deplorable She.”
Seated on folding chairs, the standing-room-only crowd cheered as the camera showed Trump walking on stage and booed the arrival of Clinton.
The partisan crowd pelted the former secretary of state with boos for many of her answers and threw in a periodic “liar” on some replies. They greeted nearly every Trump response with applause and cheers.
And they also laughed a lot starting when Clinton turned to Trump at the outset and said, “Donald, it’s good to be with you,” and the camera showed the Republican candidate smirking at the greeting.
Afterward, Fred Fillbrook, of Mill Creek, said it was a good exchange, though he did feel Trump performed better.
“It’s really important for people to hear both sides,” he said. “He seemed to put her on the defensive more than she did him.”
His wife, Nola, said she appreciated that the format allowed the two to interact directly.
“It showed how they can put pressure on someone and how well they can take pressure,” she said.
Afterward, as the crowd discussed who won, Chris Ward of Mill Creek offered this assessment: “His style is not polished. It’s the truth. If you like smoke and mirrors, she won. Hands down.”
The choice of a Mexican restaurant for the Democrat gathering was not a political coincidence, said state Sen. Maralyn Chase, D-Shoreline. Multiple generations of her family were represented, including daughter Carin Chase, also active in local politics, and grandson Chase Simerka.
“This is going to be the debate of the century,” Chase said. “So much matters for our country. I’m obviously a Democrat. I’m a Bernie Democrat. I’m going to support Hillary.”
As for Trump, “I’m here to see him say some of the foul things he’s been saying,” the senator said.
Richard Wilson, 62, of Seattle, sat with his 28-year-old daughter. They chose the Lynnwood event because it was likely to be less crowded than something closer to home, he said.
“I just wanted to hear what they had to say,” he said.
Some in the crowd shushed others as the debate got under way.
As had happened at the Republican watching party, the Democrats broke into laughter when Clinton said, “Donald, it’s good to be with you.” The room went silent when the candidates were asked about the deaths of black men in police shootings in recent months. At one point, the margarita mixer at the bar drowned out the debate.
Some in the restaurant had ventured over from a conference on domestic violence at the nearby Lynnwood Convention Center. Among them was Vanessa Gutierrez, 33, of Wenatchee. She was not sure what to think of the debate. “It’s kind of a joke,” she said.
Another conference attendee, Tim Hulley, of Vashon Island, said he thought Clinton was doing well.
“She’s upbeat. She’s factual,” he said. “She’s not letting him bully her.”
Trump, who is seeking to become the first Republican presidential candidate to win Washington since Ronald Reagan, has held three rallies in the state. His Aug. 31 rally in Everett drew nearly 9,200 people to Xfinity Arena, with thousands of others outside the venue.
Capturing the majority in Snohomish County will be a challenge, based on the votes cast in the presidential primary in May.
Trump garnered 43,159 votes while Clinton received 42,135 and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders captured 40,355 votes. And in Everett, both Clinton and Sanders garnered more votes than Trump in the presidential primary. Sanders received 5,197 votes, followed by Clinton with 4,986 and Trump with 4,148.
Ballots will be mailed Oct. 20 for the Nov. 8 election.
Jerry Cornfield: 360-352-8623; jcornfield@heraldnet.com. Twitter: @dospueblos
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