Donald and Hillary's ceasefire: Rivals pull their punches and COMPLIMENT one another as Clinton says she likes his children and Trump praises her as 'a fighter' 

  • Sunday's debate ended on a light note, with an audience member asking Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump to say something nice about each other
  • Political smackdown was dominated by slings and arrows until that point
  • Clinton said she respects Trump's children, 'and I think that says a lot about Donald'
  • Trump countered: Hillary 'doesn't quit. She doesn't give up. I respect that'

By David Martosko, Us Political Editor For Dailymail.com In St. Louis, Missouri

Published: 23:40 EST, 9 October 2016 | Updated: 01:26 EST, 10 October 2016

The final question in Sunday night's presidential debate was a cool-down moment from 90-minutes of accusations and recriminations.

'Would either of you name one positive thing that you respect in one another?' a member of the town-hall audience asked.

Hillary Clinton wouldn't praise her Republican opponent directly, but said she had 'respect' for the job he has done raising his children.

Trump declared that a 'compliment' and responded in kind by called the Democratic nominee 'a fighter' who 'doesn't give up.'

LIKE OLD FRIENDS: Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump were asked to say something nice about each other as Sunday night's presidential debate ended in St. Louis, Missouri

LIKE OLD FRIENDS: Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump were asked to say something nice about each other as Sunday night's presidential debate ended in St. Louis, Missouri

PRIDE AND JOY: Clinton praised Trump's children (2nd from left: Ivanka, Eric and Donald Jr.) and said they are a reflection on him

PRIDE AND JOY: Clinton praised Trump's children (2nd from left: Ivanka, Eric and Donald Jr.) and said they are a reflection on him

NOT SONNY & CHER: Donald and Hillary went after each other for 90 vicious minutes until the cool-down moment came at the end

NOT SONNY & CHER: Donald and Hillary went after each other for 90 vicious minutes until the cool-down moment came at the end

'I respect his children. His children are incredibly able, and devoted. And I think that says a lot about Donald,' Clinton offered first.

'I don't agree with nearly anything else he says or does, but I do respect that.'

'And I do think that is something that, as a mother and as a grandmother, is very important to me,' she said.

Clinton observed that 'this election has become in part so conflict-oriented, so intense – because there's a lot at stake, this is not an ordinary time and this is not an ordinary election.'

'It's one of the most consequential elections that we have,' she added. 'And that's why I've tried to put forth specific policies and plans, trying to get it off the personal and try to get it on what I want to do as president.'

ALSO WONDERFUL: Trump's younger daughter Tiffany was in the audience Sunday night, hearing something whispered by sister-in-law Vanessa Haydon

ALSO WONDERFUL: Trump's younger daughter Tiffany was in the audience Sunday night, hearing something whispered by sister-in-law Vanessa Haydon

Trump listened to Clinton, considered his options, and ultimately said the nicest thing about her that has escaped his lips in the last two years – that she never gives up.

'I consider her statement about my children to be a very nice compliment,' he began. 'I don't know if it was meant to be a compliment, but it is - I'm very proud of my children. They've done a wonderful job and they've been wonderful, wonderful kids, so I consider that a compliment.'

'I can say this about Hillary: She doesn't quit. She doesn't give up. I respect that,' Trump said.

'I tell it like it is,' he offered to anyone who might have doubted his moment of kindness.

FIGHTER: Trump praised Clinton as a dogged politician who 'never gives up'

FIGHTER: Trump praised Clinton as a dogged politician who 'never gives up'

Trump offered the same asterisk on his praise that Clinton had invoked.

'She's a fighter. I disagree with much of what she's fighting for,' the Republican said.

'I do disagree with her judgment in many cases, but she does fight hard and she doesn't quit and she doesn't give up. And I consider that to be a very good trait.'

Sunday's debate was mostly a slugfest, with Trump accusing Clinton of destroying evidence in the face of a congressional subpoena, mismanaging the State Department and deserving to be in jail.

Clinton parried by calling him 'dangerous' and saying he lives 'in an alternate reality.'

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