Trump Harris Debate: Who Won

Debate performance and polling impact

Harris's strong showing in Trump Harris debate

• Decisive victory in polls: 63% of polled watchers said Harris did a better job arguing policies and countering Trump, compared to only 33% who thought Biden performed better in his first debate
• Widened lead: After the Trump Harris debate, Harris's nationwide lead over Trump increased to 4.5 percentage points from 3.8 points on the day of the debate, giving her her biggest lead yet in The Economist's poll tracker
• Improved favorability: While Trump's net favorability improved slightly, Harris maintained a stronger position overall as the Harris Trump debate winner

Trump's performance and claims in 2024 presidential debate

• Campaign-reported boost: Trump's campaign claimed a 2-point post-debate poll boost in seven key states, showing Trump ahead 50-47% despite Harris being perceived as the Trump Harris debate winner
• Fact-check issues: Several of Trump's debate claims were found to be false or exaggerated, including statements about election lawsuits, military equipment in Afghanistan, and immigration numbers
• Controversial rhetoric: Trump's use of terms like "bloodbath" and "vermin" during the debate may have influenced undecided voters in the 2024 presidential debate results

Impact on voter preferences after Trump Harris debate

• Minimal overall shift: Most viewers said the debate didn't impact their decision, though Trump supporters were more likely than Harris supporters to reconsider their choice after seeing who won the Trump Harris debate
• Swing state focus: The election outcome will likely be decided by swing states like Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Georgia, where candidate stances on key topics can sway voters
• Undecided voters: Debates can significantly impact undecided, conflicted, or weakly committed voters who are more likely to switch allegiances based on performances and 2024 presidential debate results

Historical context of presidential debates

• Limited debate impact: A Harvard Business School study of 10 countries from 1952 to 2017 found televised debates have no significant effect on voter choice, which may apply to the Trump Harris debate
• Previous elections: In past elections, debates have had varying impacts on polls, with some candidates like Obama in 2008 seeing significant gains, while others like Clinton in 2016 saw minimal changes, providing context for the Harris Trump debate winner

FAQ

Who won the Trump-Harris debate?

According to a CNN flash poll, Kamala Harris emerged as the perceived winner of the September 10, 2024 presidential debate against Donald Trump. 60% of debate-watchers believed Harris performed better, while 40% favored Trump.

What were the 2024 presidential debate results?

The debate results showed a clear advantage for Kamala Harris. A CNN poll indicated that 63% of watchers thought Harris did a better job arguing policies and countering Trump, compared to only 33% who believed Trump performed better.

How did the Trump-Harris debate affect polling?

After the debate, Harris's nationwide lead over Trump increased to 4.5 percentage points from 3.8 points on the day of the debate, giving her her biggest lead yet in The Economist's poll tracker. Trump's campaign claimed a 2-point post-debate poll boost in seven key states.

Did the Harris-Trump debate winner impact voter preferences?

Most viewers said the debate didn't impact their decision. However, undecided, conflicted, or weakly committed voters are more likely to be influenced by debate performances. The election outcome will likely be decided by swing states like Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Georgia.

How does this debate compare to historical presidential debates?

While the Harris-Trump debate showed a clear winner in polls, a Harvard Business School study of 10 countries from 1952 to 2017 found televised debates generally have no significant effect on voter choice. However, in past elections, debates have had varying impacts on polls, with some candidates seeing significant gains while others experienced minimal changes.