Newt Gingrich & Laura Ingraham "Trump" Robert Reich & Jennifer Granholm at a no-holds-barred public debate on the US election

TORONTO, Sept. 30, 2016 /PRNewswire/ - Tonight in Toronto some of the biggest names in U.S. politics and media debated Donald Trump's candidacy for President of the United States. The result was a surprise victory by Trump's defenders at the debate, Newt Gingrich and Laura Ingraham over their Democratically minded opponents Robert Reich and Jennifer Granholm.

(PHOTO: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160930/414115)

The three thousand audience members attending the debate were polled at its start as to whether they agreed or disagreed with resolution be it resolved Donald Trump can make America great again. Initially, only 14% of attendees agreed with the debate motion.

After an hour and a half of heated on-stage debate, the audience voted again on the resolution. This time 20% were in favor of the motion – a shift of 6%.

Rudyard Griffiths, moderator of the debate, comments: "Given that Canadians recently elected as their Prime Minister, the progressive, Liberal, Justin Trudeau, this result is surprising. Interestingly, Newt Gingrich and Laura Ingraham's arguments for a Trump presidency were able to sway opinion among an urban, urbane Toronto audience."

Arguing for the resolution was former Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, Newt Gingrich. He was joined by Laura Ingraham, nationally syndicated radio talk show host and the most-listened to woman in America.

Speaking against the resolution was Robert Reich, who served in three U.S. administrations, including as Secretary of Labor under Bill Clinton.  His debating partner was the former two-term governor of Michigan, Jennifer Granholm.

The Munk Debates are Canada's preeminent forum for leading thinkers to discuss the pressing issues of our time. Two debates are held each year in Toronto, one in the spring and one in the autumn. Previous Munk Debate participants include Tony Blair, Henry Kissinger, Christopher Hitchens, Samantha Power, Paul Krugman, Fareed Zakaria, Malcolm Gladwell, Nigel Farage, Simon Schama, and Glenn Greenwald.

The Munk Debates are a signature initiative of the Aurea Foundation, founded in 2006 by Peter and Melanie Munk to support Canadian institutions involved in the study and development of public policy.

The entire debate proceedings are available free on Internet at www.munkdebates.com.

SOURCE Munk Debates