UPDATED: 6.47PM The second American Presidential debate between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton has seen both calling each other liars.

LISTEN ABOVE: Larry Williams spoke to political commentator Sarah Kendzior who was present in the room of the debate. 

The scene was set right at the beginning, with neither candidate putting their hand forward for the traditional shake.

Each of them dumped sex conduct allegations, and Donald Trump lost his cool for a time trying to steer the debate onto the Clinton email scandal.

Sitting in the front row are four women who Mr Trump said have been sexually abused by Mrs Clinton's husband Bill.

It's his attempt to deflect criticism, following the release of a 2005 video showing him making vulgar statements about women.

Mr Trump told Mrs Clinton he'll be appointing a special prosecutor to investigate her affairs if he becomes President.

"People's lives have been destroyed for doing one fifth of what you've done and its a disgrace, and honestly you ought to be ashamed of yourself."

Clinton responded by saying she was relieved that someone with Mr Trumps temper was not in charge of laws in America.

Mr Trump said if this was the case, she'd be in jail. 

The Republican nominee has been questioned over the vulgar comments he made about women in the video that emerged at the weekend.

Trump said it wasn't his finest moment.

"This was locker-room talk. I'm not proud of it, I apologise to my family and to the American people. Certainly I'm not proud of it and this was locker-room talk."

Mr Trump said the recording was locker room talk which was dismissed by Mrs Clinton.

"We've seen him rate women on their appearance, ranking them from one to ten. We've seen him embarrass women on TV and on twitter."

"We saw him after the first debate spend nearly a week denigrating a former Miss Universe, so yes, this is who Donald Trump is."

Mr Trump said he was embarrassed when the tape of his talk was made public over the weekend, before turning his attention to Mrs Clinton's husband Bill.

"If you look at Bill Clinton, it's far worse. Mine are words and his were actions. His was what he has done to women. There has never been anybody in the history of politics in this nation that's been so abusive to women.

Mrs Clinton dismissed Mr Trump saying he was reverting to form.

"When I hear something like that, I am reminded of what my friend Michelle Obama advised us all - when they go low, you go high."

Trump tried to deflect criticism just prior to the debate, holding a surprise press conference with the four women who accused former President Bill Clinton of sexual misconduct.

Towards the end moderator Anderson Cooper asked Mrs Clinton the burning question as to whether Mr Trump had the ability to be a good leader.

"No. It's not only my opinion, it's the opinion of many others. National security experts, republicans, former republican members of congress."

Commentator Sarah Kendzior was at the debate and said it was uncomfortable not just for those in attendance, but for all Americans watching from home.

"The lead up to it made it incredibly tense. The women who Trump bought to the audience made it tense. The constant interrupting and the neglect to substantial issues - just everything about it."

Sarah Kendzior said she thinks Hillary Clinton won the debate, but America lost.

She said the US seems to have lost its senses in this election, and people are ready for the Presidential race to be over.

Gabby Morrongiello of the Washington Examiner said both campaigns are eager to throw everything they have at the other, now there's just a month to go.

"Donald Trumps campaign is said that they anticipate having to deal with more audio leaks down the road and I'm sure that they've learned a lesson in dealing with those from what's transpired over the last 76 hours."

And Gabby Morrongiello said leaked emails involving Hillary Clinton's campaign chair are only one percent of the emails Wikileaks has, from Clinton campaign staffers.

The Washington Examiner's Becket Adams said Hillary Clinton managed to stay cool and calm throughout the debate.

He said we haven't heard the last from her campaign about some of Mr Trump's more extreme comments - in particular, regarding her email scandal.

"Especially the line about putting her in prison. That I guarantee you in the coming weeks will be made into a very big deal. The idea of a presidential candidate threatening to imprison his opponent."