A full month before the first presidential debate, the Hillary Clinton campaign is beginning a transparent effort to lower expectations, tweeting out a backhanded compliment about Donald Trump's debating skills.

"For all his lack of substance, Trump's showmanship, as ex-TV star, makes him a formidable debate foe. He thrashed his rivals in GOP debates," campaign spokesman Brian Fallon tweeted Saturday.


The first debate will be held on Sept. 26 at Hofstra University in Hempstead, N.Y. Managing expectations for debate is a traditional practice of presidential campaigns.

Given all the harsh rhetoric directed at Trump by the Clinton and her allies, it would seem debating is the only thing the Clinton campaign believes Trump is good at.