The moments when the crowd really erupted at the Town Hall style presidential debate came after Donald Trump leveled particularly incendiary — and egregious — accusations at Hillary Clinton. Those moments were startling to TV audiences, who might easily assume the hall was packed solely with Trump supporters.
But the debate was presumably attended by undecided voters. And of those leaning toward one candidate or another, the split was supposed to be about even. The reason for what appeared to be heavy Trump favoritism among attendees is simple: the rules of the debate asked that the audience remain silent throughout the proceedings, withholding applause until the end. Those leaning toward Clinton mostly followed those rules. Trump supporters did not.
