The dust has settled on the first presidential debate between Republican candidate Donald Trump and his Democratic rival, Vice President Kamala Harris. While some critics accused Disney-owned ABC News of bias, early reactions indicate a decisive victory for Harris.
According to a CNN flash poll conducted among debate watchers, Harris won the debate by a significant margin. A whopping 63% of registered voters who watched the debate chose Harris as the winner, compared to only 37% who favored Trump. Notably, before the debate, the poll found an even split among respondents regarding their expected winner. This outcome reflects a pattern seen in previous debates involving Trump. In 2020 and 2016, both Joe Biden and Hillary Clinton were perceived as outperforming Trump in their respective debates.
The poll also reveals that Harris has managed to gain ground among independent voters. Her favorability rating increased six points to 45% following the debate. Conversely, Trump’s favorability rating dipped slightly to 39%. The debate appeared to have a mixed impact on voter perceptions regarding each candidate’s understanding of the issues facing ordinary Americans. While 44% of respondents believed Harris had a better understanding, 40% chose Trump. This finding is noteworthy considering that Trump had previously held a slight edge in this area.
Although the debate may have swayed some voters, the majority (82%) indicated their vote remains unchanged. A small percentage (14%) expressed potential reconsideration but ultimately no change, while only 4% reported a change in their voting preference as a result of the debate. Interestingly, Trump supporters were slightly more likely than Harris supporters to suggest the debate had prompted them to reconsider their choice.
Despite Harris’s apparent victory in the debate, the CNN poll suggests she still trails Trump in her ability to manage the economy. The poll showed Trump ahead by 20 points, with 55% of debate watchers supporting him over Harris’s 35%. This economic advantage for Trump was slightly amplified following the debate.
It’s crucial to remember that this CNN poll represents the opinions of those who watched the debate, not the entire electorate. The poll’s methodology also highlights a slight Republican bias among the respondents. Therefore, the results should be considered within this context.
