Harris Takes the Lead in First Presidential Debate Against Trump

Early Reactions Show Harris Winning, But What Do the Final Polls Say?

The first presidential debate between former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris has concluded, sparking a lot of discussion and analysis. Although there were accusations of bias from some critics Trump even called the debate “rigged” initial viewer reactions suggest Harris performed better.

According to a CNN poll conducted right after the debate, 63% of the viewers believed Harris won, while only 37% thought Trump came out on top. This poll was sent to 605 registered voters who watched the debate. Initially, many thought the debate would be closely contested between the two candidates.

This debate wasn’t Trump’s first challenge on stage. He previously faced Joe Biden and Hillary Clinton in earlier debates. Harris’s favorability rating increased by six points to 45% after the debate, whereas Trump’s favorability slightly dropped to 39%. Voters were nearly split on which candidate understood everyday issues better: 44% chose Harris, and 40% chose Trump.

Despite the debate, 82% of viewers said it didn’t change their choice of candidate. Only 14% said they might reconsider, but they probably wouldn’t change their minds, and just 4% said the debate made them switch their vote.

Trump still leads when it comes to handling the economy. The CNN poll showed that 55% of voters trust Trump more on economic issues compared to 35% for Harris. This gap became slightly bigger after the debate, indicating that Trump’s economic message still resonates with many voters.