Clinton and Trump in test of mettle

US Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton reacts to her newly unveiled campaign plane before boarding for the first time at the Westchester County Airport in White Plains, New York, US on Sept 5, 2016. PHOTO: REUTERS

NEW YORK (REUTERS) - Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump and his Democratic rival Hillary Clinton have got a chance to show how they would lead the US armed forces as commander-in-chief.

The two opponents were due to make back-to-back appearances at an NBC "commander-in-chief" forum in New York yesterday.

A coin toss decided that Mrs Clinton would go first.

The two candidates will not share the stage on the USS Intrepid in Manhattan but will appear back-to-back to answer questions in front of current and former members.

The forum will offer a prelude of what to expect from them when national security issues come up in their three presidential debates.

It will also allow both campaigns to shift their messages to national security, a major topic for voters, given the threat of Islamist militants, China's military activities in the South China Sea as well as ballistic missile tests by the nuclear- armed North Korea.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on September 08, 2016, with the headline Clinton and Trump in test of mettle. Subscribe