About two-thirds of voters say Vice President Kamala Harris won the debate Tuesday night, according to a flash poll.
CNN conducted an instant poll following Tuesday night’s presidential debate that suggested Harris won the discussion, with 63 percent pointing toward her success.
The poll has a 5.4 percent margin of error, and it suggests that only 37 percent of debate watchers believed former President Donald Trump won the first—and potentially only—nominee meet-up.
Prior to the debate, CNN showed a 50-50 split for expectations of who would win.
“This is a complete reversal from what we saw in June,” CNN political director David Chalian said. “It was 67 percent to 33 percent, two-thirds thinking Trump won, only one-third thinking Biden won. A complete reversal.”
Harris’ deputy campaign manager has also declared that the Democrat nominee won the debate.
CNN also showed a poll of debate watchers, which Chalian said is not too different from overall voters, favoring Harris more so after the debate.
Harris was trailing Trump in favorability 39 percent to 41 percent prior to the debate, according to CNN. After tonight’s discussions, CNN now shows her at 45 percent favorability and Trump at 39 percent.
“Her favorability rating went up six points,” Chalian said. “Donald Trump actually kicked down two points by these debate watchers.”
Chalian said Harris’ uptick was “driven a lot by independent voters.” Prior to the debate, independent voters were -17 for Harris, but after the debate, they were +9 for her favorability.
“A big movement change for her favorability with the independents,” Chalian said.
The media outlet conducted a group session with undecided voters, who were sharing their thoughts live throughout the debate. The majority of the people in the group said their mind was made up thanks to the debate.
“I strongly felt Kamala was more optimistic, more respectful,” one focus group member said. “I thought she had plans she tried to describe in the minutes worth that she had…I just felt more strongly for her as oppose to her opponent.”
Chalian shared that the same percentage (54 percent) of debate watchers shared they either have a lot or some confidence in Harris or Trump lea’s ability to lead the country.
The voters were provided a dial to gauge their thoughts in the moment during the debate. If they turned the knob to the right, they felt positive about what they were hearing in the moment. A turn to the left pointed gave a more negative view.
“I think it’s important that we’re voting for a leader of our country,” another focus group member said, adding that she was “better off” during Trump’s presidency from 2016 to 2020 than she is now.
CNN showed that the dials were turned “negative” when Trump talked about Governor Tim Walz, Harris’ running mate’s apparent views on abortion. He said there is an issue of abortions “in the ninth month.” He called it “genius” and “courageous” work by the Supreme Court justices to bring decisions about abortion to the states, calling it “the vote of the people.”
“This is an issue that’s torn our country apart for 52 years… they’re radical,” Trump said. “The Democrats are radical in that. Her vice presidential pick says abortion in the ninth month is absolutely fine. He also says execution after the birth… is okay.”
After Trump finished speaking, ABC News debate moderator Linsey Davis pushed back by correctly pointing out, “There is no state in this country where it is legal to kill a baby after it’s born.”
The claim is so widespread that Newsweek published an in-depth Fact Check on the matter in 2023, finding it false that the Democratic agenda pushes for “on demand” abortions up until birth.
The CNN group’s views changed when Harris started to discuss her stance on abortion.
Harris focused on how Trump “hand-selected” three Supreme Court justices to overturn Roe v. Wade, as they did. She discussed bans that make it criminal to provide an abortion, without the exception of rape or incest.
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“That is immoral. One does not have to abandon their faith or their deeply held beliefs to agree that the government and Donald Trump certainly should not be telling a woman what to do with her body,” Harris said. “If Donald Trump were to be elected, he will sign a national abortion ban… I think the American people believe that certain freedoms, in particular the freedom to make decisions about ones own body, should not be made by the government.”
One undecided voter said it was her favorite part of Harris’ responses throughout the debate, calling it a solid response and concrete with examples and passion.
Chalian said 42 percent of debate watchers said Harris had a better plan to solve the country’s problems. Only 33 percent said Trump did.
Another undecided group member said she might not agree with Harris but she does think the government should not be in charge with people’s decisions.
“I just felt her impassioned response and that she would carry it out,” the voter said.
Follow Newsweek’s live U.S. Election blog for updates.
Former President Donald Trump and Democratic presidential nominee and Vice President Kamala Harris seen during the presidential debate on September 10, 2024, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Meanwhile, in a flash CNN News poll after the debate, Harris won in a landslide among debate watchers. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)
