Social media erupts over #thatmexicanthing remark by Mike Pence at VP debate | McClatchy Washington Bureau

Welcome to McClatchy’s Voter Survival Guide, an interactive presentation of daily events from one of the strangest presidential campaigns in modern history.

Mike Pence was clearly frustrated by Tim Kaine’s annoying and aggressive attacks about Donald Trump during Tuesday’s vice presidential debate.

“Senator, you've whipped out that Mexican thing again,” Pence said.

Pence’s remark of “that Mexican thing” is still resonating on social media, as Mexicans are using the hashtag to recount their experiences growing up in America and the sacrifices of their parents.

Hillary Clinton has been struggling in Ohio, a state Barack Obama narrowly won in 2012.

But a new poll released Wednesday is bad news for Trump in a state he will need to win to capture the Electoral College in November.

Clinton leads Trump by two percentage points, within the margin of error, with five weeks remaining in the presidential race. The state is a tossup.

The vice presidential debate was widely perceived as a win for Mike Pence, but he may have hurt the Trump campaign by dodging accusations from Tim Kaine.

House Republicans aren’t letting go of Clinton’s email issue.

The polls open nationally in 32 days. Let’s get started.

“That Mexican thing”

Pence was clearly tired of Kaine’s attacks by the end of the debate, saying, “Senator, you've whipped out that Mexican thing again” in response to the Virginia senator pressing him about Trump.

It wasn’t quite a verbal gaffe, but social media quickly exploded over the remark.

#thatmexicanthing began trending on Twitter, as Mexicans recounted their cultural experiences living in the United States.

Clinton gains in Ohio

Donald Trump was favored to win Ohio, where his populist rhetoric resonates with voters hit hard by the recession.

But a new poll is a boon for Hillary Clinton, as she leads by two percent in the crucial swing state. To be clear, that means the state is a complete tossup for both candidates, but that is good news for Clinton as Trump will need to capture other swing states like Pennsylvania and Iowa to win the White House.

Who won the vice presidential debate? Depends on how you look at it

Tim Kaine was pushy, Mike Pence was reserved. Kaine was an effective Clinton surrogate, Pence failed to defend Trump.

There’s multiple interpretations of who won the debate, but there’s little doubt that undecided voters preferred Pence.

“I didn't think Kaine should have interrupted so much,” said George Mason Ph.D. student Erik Goepner said. “But it didn't bother me in any meaningful sense because there's no comparison between the two camps.”

But it’s unclear what kind of impact Tuesday night’s debate will have on the election. Past vice presidential debates suggest it won’t matter.

Links of note

Donald Trump is tearing the NFL apart (Bleacher Report)

Clinton and Trump now might be forced to say how they will fix Social Security (McClatchy)

Here's how the moderator lost control of the vice presidential debate (McClatchy)

VP debate creates a rising new star – perhaps for 2020 (McClatchy)

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