The final presidential debate between Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton and Republican nominee Donald Trump was packed with slings, arrows and insults.
Amid barbs over abortion, ISIS, taxes, Supreme Court justices and sexual harassment, Clinton called Trump a puppet for Russian president Vladimir Putin and Trump jabbed back by saying Clinton is a "nasty woman."
The candidates also expressed differing views on the fate of president Barack Obama's Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.
"One thing we have to do is repeal and replace the disaster known as Obamacare," Trump said. "It's destroying our country. It's destroying our businesses, our small business and our big businesses. We have to repeal and replace Obamacare."
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Clinton said repealing the Affordable Care Act would only make Medicare problems worse because the law continued funding the program.
"What we need to do is go after the long-term health care drivers," Clinton said. "We've got to get costs down, increase value, emphasize wellness. I have a plan for doing that. And I think that we will be able to get entitlement spending under control with more resources and harder decisions."
Clinton added that she will not cut benefits; Trump said he will grow the economy by slashing taxes. Both promised to create new jobs. Neither candidate revealed anything particularly new about healthcare plans.
Trump has described Obamacare as a disaster all along and Clinton has maintained she will build on the law.
Debate moderator Chris Wallace asked both candidates if they would accept a grand bargain that increases taxes and cuts entitlements to keep programs such as Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security functioning.
"If we don't repeal and replace (the ACA) now, it's going to die of its own weight," Trump said. "The premiums are going up 60, 70, 80 percent. Next year they're going to go up over 100 percent. I'm glad that the premiums have started. At least people see what's happening. Bad health care at the most expensive price."
Clinton responded to the grand bargain question by saying America needs to continue funding Social Security by taxing wealthy citizens more.
"What Donald is proposing with these massive tax cuts will result in a $20 trillion additional national debt. That will have dire consequences for Social Security and Medicare," Clinton said. "I will not cut benefits. I want to enhance benefits for low-income workers and for women who have been disadvantaged by the current Social Security system."
The question most likely to linger until Election Day, however, is whether the losing candidate will accept the results of the election and support the winner.
"I'll tell you at the time," Trump said. "I’ll keep you in suspense. Okay?"
Twitter: @SullyHIT
Email the writer: tom.sullivan@himssmedia.com
