In a recent CNN poll conducted by SSRS, an independent research firm, American voters have expressed a clear preference for Vice President Kamala Harris over former President Donald Trump in Tuesday’s presidential debate. According to the poll, 63% of debate viewers believe Harris outperformed Trump, while 37% felt Trump did better.
This result marks a significant shift from earlier polling. Before the debate, a survey by The New York Times and Siena College had indicated a tightly contested race between the two candidates. Post-debate, the sentiment among Harris supporters is overwhelmingly positive, with 96% of them affirming that their candidate excelled. Conversely, only 69% of Trump supporters felt their candidate performed better.
During the debate, Harris is reported to have effectively provoked Trump into heated exchanges on a range of issues, including abortion and foreign policy. Despite these findings, Trump described the debate as his “best performance,” which contrasts sharply with the feedback from flash polls. In response to the debate’s outcome, Harris’ campaign has issued a challenge for a second debate in October.
Also read: Donald Trump and Kamala Harris participate in first presidential debate
This debate also highlights a shift from June’s debate, when former President Trump was perceived as having outperformed President Joe Biden by a margin of 67% to 33%. It’s important to note that these recent polls reflect the opinions of those who watched the debate, rather than the broader voting population.
Additionally, Vice President Harris received a notable endorsement from pop star Taylor Swift following the debate. Viewers were nearly split on which candidate they believe understands their concerns better, with 44% supporting Harris and 40% favoring Trump. However, Trump was seen as having a 23-point advantage in handling immigration and military leadership. Harris received a 9-point lead in areas of protecting democracy and abortion rights, according to the flash poll.
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