- In a highly anticipated presidential debate, US Vice President Kamala Harris was deemed the winner over former President Donald Trump, according to a CNN snap poll
- The poll showed that 63% of registered voters who watched believed Harris performed better, compared to 37% favouring Trump
- Nate Silver highlighted the strong consensus in favour of Harris, noting that even Fox News commentators seemed to concede her victory
- Harris's campaign, buoyed by the positive feedback, challenged Trump to a second debate following the first's success
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Didacus Malowa, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings over three years of experience covering politics and current affairs in Kenya.
Philadelphia - In a highly anticipated presidential debate, US Vice President Kamala Harris faced off with former President Donald Trump in a fierce and sometimes heated exchange.
A former prosecutor, Harris, controlled the debate, getting under Trump's skin on multiple occasions, prompting the visibly agitated Republican nominee to deliver a series of retorts that have been debunked as falsehoods.
The US' second in command came out on top in the heated debate, according to a snap poll conducted by CNN.
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In the poll, which surveyed 605 registered voters who watched the debate, 63% believed Harris was the top performer, while 37% thought Trump stood out.
"Debate watchers said, 63% to 37%, that Harris turned in a better performance onstage in Philadelphia. 96% of Harris supporters who tuned in said that their chosen candidate had done a better job, while a smaller 69% majority of Trump’s supporters credited him with having a better night," CNN reported.
CNN clarified that the poll reflected the opinions of those who tuned in to the debate and not the general voting public, with a margin of error of plus or minus 5.3% points.
Following the debate, well-known US pollster Nate Silver commented on the strong consensus in favour of Harris, suggesting that her performance had resonated with viewers.
"There is a strong consensus that Harris won the night. Bitcoin prices are down, which also implies a loss for Trump. Even the Fox News panel that I caught at the tail end of the evening seemed to concede that it was a win for Harris," Silver noted.
Takeaways from the Harris-Trump debate
The first 10 minutes or so focused on the economy and were good for Trump, but many, like President Joe Biden, singled out fatigue as an issue for him.
Harris ensured that the discussion remained focused on Trump’s controversial traits and decisions, setting the stage for a critical assessment of his legacy.
She delved into Trump's ongoing criminal trials, making it clear that the former president’s legal challenges should not be overlooked.
One of the notable issues Harris raised was Project 2025, a policy initiative linked to Trump, questioning its implications and pointing out how it aligns with some of his most controversial stances.
The VP did not shy away from bringing up Trump’s role in the January 6 Capitol riots, condemning his actions and rhetoric, suggesting that they directly contributed to one of the most significant challenges to U.S. democracy.
Harris brought up Trump's history of praising authoritarian figures, a pattern that she emphasised as problematic for a democratic leader.
She criticised his lack of respect for democratic principles, painting a picture of a leader out of touch with the values of his own country.
The Harris campaign, emboldened by the positive reception, challenged Trump to a second debate.
Proofreading by Mercy Nyambura Guthua, journalist and copy editor at TUKO.co.ke
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