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What Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump need to do to win the first debate

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Hillary Clinton (left) and Donald Trump will debate for the first time on Monday.

WASHINGTON — Most presidential debates are a draw.

Despite the drama. The excitement. And despite the dozens of e-mails from each side claiming victory, it's very difficult to completely knock out a political opponent.

"Sometimes you get all excited about a debate and then it doesn't play out that way," cautioned Northeastern University's Alan Schroeder, a professor at the School of Journalism and the author of "Presidential Debates: Risky Business on the Campaign Trail." "It is more normal for a debate to have a murky outcome."

He added: "If there was a magic formula, everyone would follow it."

So for either Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton to come away the clear winner, something pretty extraordinary needs to happen on Monday's debate stage in New York.

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The Globe spoke with an array of strategists from both sides of the aisle about what each candidate must do to achieve a rare and often elusive W.

HILLARY CLINTON

1. Make a case for yourself.

Leave a positive impression and project a vision, beyond just slamming Trump. "The debates are some of the only opportunities to talk to the people in the middle," said Arun Chaudhary, a Democratic strategist at the firm Revolution Messaging. "She needs to give people a reason to vote for her."

2. Be authentic.

It's very hard to practice for this, but some of the best moments from debates aren't the ones that were scripted. Bernie Sanders, according to his staff, never practiced his line that Americans are "sick and tired of hearing about your damn e-mails." But it memorably established Sanders as an issues-oriented candidate reluctant to take potshots at Clinton.

"When you memorize those pithy comebacks, it's always the worst," said Chaudhary.

3. Be ready to take over the moderating.

Clinton can score big if she can show that Trump's grasp of issues is shaky, but the businessman so far has done a good job of avoiding much detail under questioning. So Clinton just might have to do some questioning herself, said Frank Sadler, a Republican strategist who oversaw Carly Fiorina's presidential campaign.

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"What she has to be able to do is to interrupt and say, 'Hey, Donald, what do you mean by that?' " Sadler said. "She has to try to either ask him real questions about policy that push him into the position of answering the question, or show that he doesn't know enough to answer the question."

4. Speak plainly about ethical problems.

Hillary Clinton tends to have a harder time talking about political issues than policy details. She needs to show that she can give humble and believable answers about Benghazi, her private e-mail server, her paid speeches to Wall Street banks, and meetings she granted to top Clinton Foundation donors — all without being defensive or legalistic.

5. Stay hydrated and current on antihistamines.

Imagine if Clinton takes the stage and has another coughing fit? That would allow Trump to appear physically stronger and fuel the kinds of questions about her age and health that the campaign would rather avoid.

DONALD TRUMP

1. Control your mouth.

Trump needs to reassure voters and undercut Clinton's case that he might start World War III if given the nuclear codes. Displaying a measured, more thoughtful temperament is perhaps his biggest debate imperative, especially when Clinton surely will try to bait him into saying something nutty or overly aggressive.

"He has to avoid giving into his worst instincts," said Lis Smith, a Democratic strategist who helped prepare Martin O'Malley to debate Clinton. "His instinct has been to lash out. And when men have been overly dismissive of Clinton, she has always won those debates."

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2. Offer the rosy version of nationalism.

Trump is at his best when he articulates a version of his pro-America message that's inclusive and optimistic. One glimmer of this came when Trump defended the notion of "New York values" after being attacked by Ted Cruz during a debate.

Trump talked about how the city reacted after 9/11. "We rebuilt downtown Manhattan, and everybody in the world watched and everybody in the world loved New York and loved New Yorkers," Trump said, to applause.

"If the kind of debater that showed up against Ted Cruz in the argument of New York values shows up in this debate, it could be a long night for Hillary," said Brett O'Donnell, a veteran Republican consultant. "He was very measured on the attack but very effective. He came off as eloquent and smart."

3. Show some foreign policy chops.

Americans don't want their leader to embarrass them on the world stage. Trump needs to show that he's got at least an adequate handle on foreign affairs and world history. "The graveyard of presidential ambitions is littered with people who could not answer foreign policy questions in a debate," said Smith, the Democratic strategist.

4. Know some details. Any details.

Trump likes to be vague. But if he shows a tighter grasp of a few policy specifics, he's going to put a lot of points on the board. "The expectations are going to be so high for her and so low for him," said Democratic strategist Tad Devine.

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5. Bring the hammer. But wrap it in velvet.

Trump stood apart during the primary debates because of his ability to counterpunch. He lightly taunts his opponents into going a little too far, and then gets them on the defensive. Anyone who has watched Clinton talk about Trump knows that she's relishing a fight with him, but he'll be ready for her to overextend.

"He's got to stay aggressive and on offense, but if he crosses the line to offensive, that's when he gets in trouble," O'Donnell said.


Annie Linskey can be reached at annie.linskey@globe.com. Follow her on Twitter @annielinskey. Matt Viser can be reached at matt.viser@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @mviser.