Donald Trump and Kamala Harris met at the debates: who won?
11 september 2024 в 15:13
Donald Trump and Kamala Harris met for the first time at the debates in Philadelphia on Tuesday evening, which could be their first and possibly only presidential debate.
This was a stark contrast to the debates on June 27 between President Joe Biden, 81, and Trump, 78.
Although Trump did not perform well against Biden in June — struggling with lack of substance and repeating lies — these issues were overshadowed by Biden’s catastrophic performance, which was likely one of the worst among all presidential candidates in history. This, combined with Trump being shot in the ear in July, diagnosed with COVID, and continuing to make mistakes, ultimately led the current president to withdraw from the election for re-election, instead deciding to support his 59-year-old vice president Harris.
So, the question remains: was there a clear «winner» in yesterday’s debates?
According to a CNN/SSRS poll of 600 registered voters who watched the debates, 63% said Harris was the better performer, while 37% supported Trump. Before the debates, the same voters were evenly divided on who they thought would perform better.
This result may be a snapshot, but Harris' strategy to put Trump on the defensive was noticeable early in the evening, especially on topics such as the economy and abortions.
Trump has a strong and loyal base, and seven critical states — Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, North Carolina, Georgia, Arizona, and Nevada — are usually more conservative than the entire country. Meanwhile, Harris holds a narrow advantage in Wisconsin, Michigan, and Pennsylvania and is tied with Trump in four other critical states: Nevada, Georgia, North Carolina, and Arizona.
Polls, including an NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist poll released on Tuesday, show that more people trust Trump than Harris in deciding issues such as the economy, immigration, and the Middle East. A New York Times/Siena College poll suggests that Trump leads Harris nationally by a score of 48 to 47 percent, which is within the margin of error. A CBS News/YouGov poll also shows that Harris leads Trump by one percentage point in Michigan and Wisconsin and is tied with Trump in Pennsylvania.
While national polls provide a useful assessment of a candidate’s popularity across the country, they do not always reliably predict the outcome of elections.
Instant polls seem to capture the immediate reactions of viewers who have just watched two candidates exchange words. Among voters who watched the debates and identify as politically independent, favorability towards Harris increased to 48%, compared to 30% before the debates.
«Perhaps men are too emotional to be president», - noted Justin Wolfers, professor of public policy and economics at the University of Michigan.
«Harris played the long game in tonight’s debates, allowing former President Trump to reference his relationships with Viktor Orban, Kim Jong Un, and Vladimir Putin, as well as present internet memes about Haitian immigrants 'driving dogs and cats' in Springfield, Ohio, for a full 56 minutes before she stated that Trump lacks the 'character' to be president», - commented Henrietta Treys, managing partner and director of economic policy research at Veda Partners.
«Many of Trump’s supporters tuned in tonight, expecting the mask to fall off. The man who advertised himself as strong and powerful falters, stumbles, and appears small when challenged. After tonight’s performance, Trump’s supporters will be truly surprised and disappointed», - observed Alyssa Farah Griffin, former White House director of public relations during the Trump administration.
«It's not even close. Vice President Harris has proven that she is the best choice to lead the nation forward», - said President Biden
This was a stark contrast to the debates on June 27 between President Joe Biden, 81, and Trump, 78.
Although Trump did not perform well against Biden in June — struggling with lack of substance and repeating lies — these issues were overshadowed by Biden’s catastrophic performance, which was likely one of the worst among all presidential candidates in history. This, combined with Trump being shot in the ear in July, diagnosed with COVID, and continuing to make mistakes, ultimately led the current president to withdraw from the election for re-election, instead deciding to support his 59-year-old vice president Harris.
So, the question remains: was there a clear «winner» in yesterday’s debates?
According to a CNN/SSRS poll of 600 registered voters who watched the debates, 63% said Harris was the better performer, while 37% supported Trump. Before the debates, the same voters were evenly divided on who they thought would perform better.
This result may be a snapshot, but Harris' strategy to put Trump on the defensive was noticeable early in the evening, especially on topics such as the economy and abortions.
Trump has a strong and loyal base, and seven critical states — Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, North Carolina, Georgia, Arizona, and Nevada — are usually more conservative than the entire country. Meanwhile, Harris holds a narrow advantage in Wisconsin, Michigan, and Pennsylvania and is tied with Trump in four other critical states: Nevada, Georgia, North Carolina, and Arizona.
Polls, including an NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist poll released on Tuesday, show that more people trust Trump than Harris in deciding issues such as the economy, immigration, and the Middle East. A New York Times/Siena College poll suggests that Trump leads Harris nationally by a score of 48 to 47 percent, which is within the margin of error. A CBS News/YouGov poll also shows that Harris leads Trump by one percentage point in Michigan and Wisconsin and is tied with Trump in Pennsylvania.
While national polls provide a useful assessment of a candidate’s popularity across the country, they do not always reliably predict the outcome of elections.
Instant polls seem to capture the immediate reactions of viewers who have just watched two candidates exchange words. Among voters who watched the debates and identify as politically independent, favorability towards Harris increased to 48%, compared to 30% before the debates.
«Perhaps men are too emotional to be president», - noted Justin Wolfers, professor of public policy and economics at the University of Michigan.
«Harris played the long game in tonight’s debates, allowing former President Trump to reference his relationships with Viktor Orban, Kim Jong Un, and Vladimir Putin, as well as present internet memes about Haitian immigrants 'driving dogs and cats' in Springfield, Ohio, for a full 56 minutes before she stated that Trump lacks the 'character' to be president», - commented Henrietta Treys, managing partner and director of economic policy research at Veda Partners.
«Many of Trump’s supporters tuned in tonight, expecting the mask to fall off. The man who advertised himself as strong and powerful falters, stumbles, and appears small when challenged. After tonight’s performance, Trump’s supporters will be truly surprised and disappointed», - observed Alyssa Farah Griffin, former White House director of public relations during the Trump administration.
«It's not even close. Vice President Harris has proven that she is the best choice to lead the nation forward», - said President Biden
© Kolganov Andrey
