A CNN poll found that an overwhelming majority of debate viewers said they thought Vice President Kamala Harris outperformed former President Trump in Tuesday night's debate.
Going into Tuesday night's debate, respondents were split, with 50% expecting Trump to win and 50% expecting Harris to win, but by the end of the debate, 63% said Harris had won, compared to 37% who thought Trump had won.
Broken down by candidate, 96% of Harris' supporters said she won, while 69% of Trump supporters said the former president won.
The CNN poll was conducted via text message among 605 registered voters who said they watched Tuesday night's debate. The poll has a margin of error of 5.3 percentage points.
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Vice President Kamala Harris (R) and former President Donald Trump shake hands during the second presidential debate at the Pennsylvania Convention Center, Tuesday, September 10, 2024, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Getty Images)
Trump supporters defended the former president's performance in the Pennsylvania debate, with many also criticizing ABC News debate moderators David Muir and Lindsey Davis.
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“President Trump delivered a strong America First message directly to the American people, focused on fighting inflation, strengthening our economy, securing our border, and a foreign policy that pursues peace through strength,” Rep. Elise Stefanik of New York, chair of the House Republican Conference, said in a statement at the end of the debate.
“The ABC hosts are not journalists, they are pro-Kamala activists who baselessly attacked President Trump, invited a 3-on-1 debate and allowed Kamala to lie repeatedly. President Trump won in a landslide victory and will win again on Election Day,” she added.
Former President Donald Trump gives thumbs up in the spin room after the second presidential debate at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Hannah Beyer/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Similarly, Sen. J.D. Vance, R-Ohio, Trump's running mate, told Fox News host Sean Hannity that “the host didn't do his job, but President Trump did.”
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Trump himself said the debate was “three to one” because the moderator sided with Harris on some issues.
Former President Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris attend a debate in Pennsylvania on Tuesday night.
Fox News host Sean Hannity questioned Trump about reports that the Harris campaign is hoping for a second debate in October and asked if Trump would be open to it. Fox News has sent formal invitations to both the Trump and Harris campaigns for the second debate next month.
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“She wanted it because she lost,” Trump responded. “I don't know. I'd have to think about it. But if you won the debate, I don't think I should do it. Why do we have another debate?” she quickly added. I would like to discuss this again. It's like… you know what happens when you lose as a professional boxer? You immediately want a new fight.”
Fox News' Elizabeth Elkind contributed to this report.
