According to a CNN poll conducted by SSRS, Vice President Kamala Harris is widely regarded as having outperformed Donald Trump in their recent presidential debate. The poll shows that 63% of debate viewers felt Harris performed better, compared to 37% who favoured Trump. This contrasts with a pre-debate poll by The New York Times and Siena College, which had indicated a close race between the two candidates.
Harris’ supporters overwhelmingly felt she excelled, with 96% rating her performance as superior, while only 69% of Trump’s backers agreed he did well. Harris was noted for provoking Trump into defensive reactions on various topics, from abortion to foreign policy. Despite Trump’s claim that it was his “best debate,” the flash polls suggest otherwise. Harris’ team has proposed scheduling a second debate for October.
The results signify a notable shift from June’s debate when Trump was seen as outperforming President Joe Biden by a margin of 67% to 33%. The recent polls reflect the views of those who watched the debate, not the general voting public. Following the debate, Harris also gained the support of pop star Taylor Swift.
Debate viewers were nearly split on which candidate better understood their concerns: 44% chose Harris, while 40% selected Trump. However, Trump received a 23-point lead on handling immigration and commanding as president, whereas Harris had a 9-point advantage on issues like democracy protection and abortion rights.
