Who Won Harris Trump Debate

Debate performance Harris vs Trump analysis

• Harris' commanding performance: In the Harris Trump debate, Harris dominated the proceedings, leveraging her prosecutorial skills to keep Trump on the back foot. She delivered sharp, focused answers designed to showcase the contrast between her and Trump, contributing to her status as the debate performance winner in Harris vs Trump.

• Trump's defensive stance: Trump appeared to be set on his back foot by Harris' needling, focusing on relitigating his record rather than attacking Harris' vulnerabilities. This allowed Harris to avoid sustained attention on her own weaknesses, further solidifying her position as who won the Harris Trump debate.

• Key issues discussed: Harris pressed a forceful case against Trump on abortion, economy, and democracy. She gave one of her most impassioned answers on abortion rights, while Trump focused on issues like inflation and immigration. These topics were crucial in determining who won the Harris Trump debate.

• Fact-checking: Trump leaned on familiar falsehoods and unproven claims, including a debunked rumor about Haitian immigrants. ABC News moderators earned high marks for quick fact checks of Trump's statements, which impacted perceptions of the Harris Trump debate winner.

Impact on polls

• Harris' modest bounce: According to The Economist's poll tracker, Harris' nationwide lead over Trump widened to 4.5 percentage points from 3.8 points on the day of the debate, giving her her biggest lead yet. This shift suggests Harris as the Harris Trump debate winner.

• Historical context: Research suggests presidential debates usually have limited impact on voter preferences. A study found that in 10 countries from 1952-2017, televised presidential debates had no significant impact on voter choice, which may affect the long-term impact of who won the Harris Trump debate.

• Undecided voters: While debates may not sway committed voters, they can help undecided voters form a preference, especially when a candidate is relatively unknown. This factor could influence perceptions of the debate performance Harris vs Trump.

Viewer ratings and engagement

• High viewership: The Harris-Trump debate attracted 67.135 million viewers, up 31% from the 51.266 million who tuned in to Trump's debate with Biden in June. This high viewership increased the debate's impact on determining who won the Harris Trump debate.

• Network performance: ABC News won the night with 19.049 million viewers, making it the most-watched debate on any network in at least 16 years. This large audience was crucial in shaping public opinion on the Harris Trump debate winner.

• Social media buzz: The debate was a major topic of conversation across social media, with Trump's reference to a debunked rumor being one of the most-talked-about moments. This online discussion contributed to the overall assessment of the debate performance Harris vs Trump.

FAQ

Who won the Harris-Trump debate?

Kamala Harris is generally considered to have won the Harris-Trump debate on September 10, 2024. She delivered sharper, more focused answers and kept Trump on the defensive throughout the debate.

What factors contributed to Harris being seen as the debate winner?

Harris' commanding performance, her prosecutorial skills in keeping Trump on the back foot, and her ability to deliver sharp, focused answers on key issues like abortion, economy, and democracy contributed to her being seen as the debate winner.

How did Trump perform in the debate against Harris?

Trump appeared to be on the defensive for much of the debate, focusing on relitigating his record rather than attacking Harris' vulnerabilities. He also relied on familiar falsehoods and unproven claims, which were fact-checked by moderators.

Did the Harris-Trump debate have a significant impact on polls?

The debate resulted in a modest bounce for Harris, with her nationwide lead over Trump widening to 4.5 percentage points from 3.8 points. However, research suggests that presidential debates usually have limited long-term impact on voter preferences.

How was the viewer engagement for the Harris-Trump debate?

The debate attracted high viewership with 67.135 million viewers, up 31% from Trump's previous debate with Biden. It was also a major topic of conversation on social media, contributing to the overall assessment of the debate performance.