Clinton the comedian: Will late-night jokes broaden her appeal?
Hillary Clinton cracked a few jokes Wednesday evening on Jimmy Fallon鈥檚 "The Tonight Show," but for the most part, the Democratic candidate ditched one-liners in favor of highlighting serious issues.
Millennials may be key to a Democratic victory next fall, and with an annual聽聽of 6.6 million viewers between the ages of 18-34, Mr. Fallon鈥檚 show seems like a perfect venue for Mrs. Clinton to reclaim an essential demographic.
"Our challenge is to again excite the passion of the youngest voters," said Clinton鈥檚 campaign chairman 聽in May. "After two terms of President Obama, it won鈥檛 be easy," he acknowledged.
Fellow Democratic nominee Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont is currently king of the young voters, according to a recent study from online textbook company .聽Since early June, their polls show Clinton's support among college students plummeting from 40 to 18 percent support, while Sanders's support has climbed .
"Do you have any idea what it's like, to work so hard for something, to be so close getting it, then someone pops out of no where and tries to take it all away?" Clinton asked Fallon in the show鈥檚 opening skit.
Fallon, who was impersonating Donald Trump for the skit, replied, "Are you talking about Bernie Sanders?"
In New Hampshire polls, Sanders surpassed Clinton on Aug. 25, and the gap has been growing ever since, according to poll aggregator聽. As of Sept. 16, RCP showed Sanders beating Clinton by 10.5 points.
So Clinton used her time on "The Tonight Show" to redirect attention to her agenda.聽
"Trump has immigration, Bernie Sanders has big business, what would be your issue that defines your campaign?" asked Fallon.
"Raising American鈥檚 incomes, getting more money into your paycheck so you can have a better chance, a better shot," Clinton responded, drawing audience applause. "We've got to get out from under the twin problem: that college is not affordable and the debt is just so burdensome. So I鈥檓 addressing both."
Clinton also stressed her views on gender equality.聽The show aired after the second GOP debate, where women鈥檚 rights and Planned Parenthood funding were hotly contested.
"I鈥檝e spent my entire career fighting for women鈥檚 rights," said Clinton. "I鈥檒l push for equal pay in the workplace, for protecting woman鈥檚 health and reproductive rights, making affordable child care a reality for families. That鈥檚 what I believe in, that鈥檚 what I鈥檓 fighting for."
When Fallon asked Clinton about Mr. Trump, the Republican frontrunner,聽the former Secretary of State appeared unphased. "He鈥檚 making the most of it," she said. "I鈥檓 having a good time watching it."
Will the appearance boost her performance among young voters? Perhaps the best summary of Clinton's comedic debut came from the opening skit.
"I鈥檓 traveling across our great nation, I鈥檓 listening to people鈥檚 stories, I鈥檓 confident Americans will see I can deliver for them, that they can count on me for them and their families," said Clinton.
And Fallon-as-Trump responded: "You sound like a robot."
