Trump Harris Debate Poll: Results and Analysis

Debate performance ratings

Overall winner

• Harris declared winner: 54% of voters who watched the Trump Harris debate think Kamala Harris won, while 31% say Donald Trump did
• Partisan breakdown: 90% of Democratic voters say Harris won, while 68% of Republicans think Trump did

Clarity of plans

• Harris seen as having clearer plans: 46% of voters in the Trump Harris debate poll think Harris laid out a clearer plan for what she'd do if elected, compared to 32% for Trump
• Partisan perception: 84% of Democrats think Harris had a clearer plan, versus 69% of Republicans who think Trump did

Truthfulness

• Trump perceived as less truthful: 48% of registered voters see Trump as having told more lies or exaggerations during the debate, compared to 33% for Harris
• Partisan divide: 76% of Democrats think Trump was more untruthful, while 64% of Republicans say Harris was

Debate focus

• Harris focused on plans: 42% of voters thought Harris spent more time explaining her plans, versus 35% who thought she focused on attacking Trump
• Trump seen as more aggressive: 52% think Trump spent more time attacking, while only 28% think he focused on explaining his plans

Post-debate polling trends

National polling average

• Harris' lead widens: Harris Trump debate results show Harris' nationwide lead over Trump has increased to 4.5 percentage points, up from 3.8 points on the day of the debate
• This represents Harris' largest lead yet in The Economist's poll tracker

Swing state impact

• Uncertain electoral impact: Despite Harris' strong performance in the Trump Harris debate, it's unclear how much progress she made in building a path to 270 electoral votes
• Race remains close: Some Democratic representatives describe the race as a "dead heat" in key battleground states

Debate strategies and reactions

Harris' approach

• Aggressive baiting strategy: Harris consistently baited Trump throughout the presidential debate 2024, peppering her answers with comments designed to provoke him
• Focus on middle class: Harris' campaign emphasized focusing on the middle class and prospects for a better future

Trump's performance

• Defensive posture: Trump was often out of control, loudly insisting on falsehoods and repeating conspiracy theories
• Reliance on instincts: Trump dismissed the value of studying for the debate, instead relying on his instincts to guide his responses

Media and campaign reactions

• Trump campaign damage control: Trump's team and conservative media allies mounted a frantic cleanup operation following his widely panned debate performance
• Moderator bias claims: 55% of Republicans think the debate moderators were biased in favor of Harris, while 71% of Democrats think they were fair

FAQ

Who won the Trump-Harris debate according to polls?

According to multiple presidential debate polls for 2024, Kamala Harris was seen as the clear winner. 54% of voters who watched the debate believed Harris won, compared to 31% for Trump.

What were the key findings of the Trump-Harris debate poll?

The poll showed Harris was perceived as having clearer plans (46% vs 32% for Trump) and being more truthful. 48% thought Trump told more lies or exaggerations compared to 33% for Harris. Harris was also seen as focusing more on explaining her plans rather than attacking her opponent.

How did the Harris-Trump debate results affect national polling?

Following the debate, Harris' nationwide lead over Trump increased to 4.5 percentage points, up from 3.8 points before the debate. This represents Harris' largest lead yet in The Economist's poll tracker.

Did the Trump-Harris debate poll results vary by political party?

Yes, there was a significant partisan divide in the poll results. 90% of Democratic voters said Harris won the debate, while 68% of Republicans thought Trump did. Similar partisan splits were seen in perceptions of truthfulness and clarity of plans.

What impact did the presidential debate poll 2024 have on the election outlook?

While the poll showed a strong performance for Harris, its impact on the electoral map remains uncertain. Some Democratic representatives still describe the race as a "dead heat" in key battleground states, despite Harris' improved national polling numbers after the debate.