Thanks to Trumps stellar performance in the debates Hillary could get over 50% of the total popular vote, extinguishing the "most of the country didn't vote for her" meme.
When you are behind you do need to do something drastic, but Trump just is doubling down on the same old crap that got him to where he is now. His core loves it but these debates were all about the remaining undecideds.
I think Donald is regretting this whole thing. His image is everything to him. It was always a bit of a caricature, but it has become a caricature of a caricature. He was always the butt of jokes, but those where how rich he is and about his hair. Now every incoherent thing he says is analyzed, picked apart and made fun of. For a narcissist such as Trump that's too much. On the plus side for him I think he will be able to go on well paid speaking tours haranguing that "nasty woman" to packed houses for the next four years to re-stroke his ego.
One last thing about Trump I want to throw in is his apparent total lack of a sense of humor and the ability to understand what is funny. When Trump was roasted by Comedy Central in the 90's, the writing staff helps the roastee with jokes. Apparently Donald edited a lot of the jokes. Crossing out the punchlines and just leaving the set up. If you can find it, it is one of the more painful roasts to watch.