Trump says in next debate with Clinton he will ‘hit her harder’

Washington, Sep 28 (IANS) US Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump expressed his satisfaction on Tuesday about his performance in the first debate against Democratic rival Hillary Clinton, and said he will "hit her harder" in their next encounter.

"I thought it went really well. I had some hostile questions. That was okay. It was the debate of debates," EFE news quoted Trump as saying on the television program "Fox & Friends".

Asked if he will change anything in his next debate with Clinton, to be held on October 9 in St. Louis, Missouri, Trump answered that "I may hit her harder in certain ways".

"(Yesterday) I really eased up because I didn't want to hurt anybody's feelings."

Trump said that when Clinton pounced on the magnate's tendency to insult women, he felt like bringing up "the transgressions of Bill", a reference to former US President Bill Clinton's extra-marital adventures.

But he didn't do it, he said, because "I didn't wanna say what I was going to say with Chelsea in the room".

The real-estate magnate said he was proud of having spoken swift and strong in the debate about illegal immigration, the police, law and order, business and jobs, because those are the things he thinks must be dealt with for the good of the country.

He also protested on Twitter that moderator Lester Holt asked Clinton "nothing on e-mails. Nothing on the corrupt Clinton Foundation. And nothing on #Benghazi" where four Americans were killed in that Libyan city in 2012 while she was Secretary of State.

The Republican candidate also complained that he had problems with the microphone, which he blamed for the noise when he spoke that made him sound like he was sniffling with a cold.

"I had a problem with my mic that didn't work, I wonder if it was set up on purpose. In the room they couldn't hear me, not exactly great...I wonder if it was set up that way," EFE news quoted him as saying.

The two candidates faced off against each other at Hofstra University on Long Island, New York, exchanging attacks for 1 1/2 hours on matters of the economy, racism, trade policies and foreign affairs.