Staff Reports
The recent debate might have left a few heads spinning, especially among those who tuned in to witness Donald Trump take on Kamala Harris. While the performance was laden with interruptions and incessant fact-checking from the moderators at ABC, the aftermath tells a different story than anticipated. A fresh poll from the New York Post reveals that while nearly half of the respondents believed Harris emerged victorious, only 29% sided with Trump. However, the narrative diverges when examining the approval ratings in the ensuing aftermath. Surprisingly, Trump saw a slight uptick in his approval, moving up a notch, while Harris failed to capitalize on the debate, maintaining a razor-thin lead of 50-47.
One of the more amusing aspects of this entire saga is the 14-point shift among independents favoring Trump while Harris stagnant on approval ratings isn’t exactly the best news for a Vice President hoping for a boost. In fact, analysis shows that while many might believe Harris excelled in the debate, the reality is that her hollow delivery failed to resonate with the electorate. Instead, voters seem to be increasingly disillusioned with the substance—or lack thereof—coming from her camp.
#BREAKING: Trump gains support in NEW POST-DEBATE national poll
[Change from post-DNC, pre-debate August poll]
🔵 Harris: 50% [=]
🔴 Trump: 47% [+1]
🟡 Other: 3%Leger | Sept. 10-11 *following the debate | N=1,174LV
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) September 12, 2024
Polling data, while often maligned for reliability, offers interesting insight when scrutinized closely. The RealClearPolitics average demonstrates Trump leading by a margin of 3.1 points, indicating not just a narrative shift but a potential resurgence in voter confidence towards Trump as they parse through the fallout of the debate. In an election landscape where sentiment can rapidly change, the perception of the candidates matters immensely, and Trump is clearly making strides.
Further scrutiny reveals an interesting dynamic. Harris may have “won” in terms of sticking to her rehearsed talking points, but reality shows that her performance was short on substance. Trump, on the other hand, displayed a level of frustration that some might argue was warranted given the three-on-one ambush he faced. It’s a classic case of how style sometimes trumps substance in the eyes of certain viewers—a reality that may ultimately play to Trump’s advantage.
As one may note, despite the sensationalist headlines that begging for attention, most Americans are more acutely concerned about rising grocery bills and gas prices than the semantics of a debate. While the media continues to blow smoke about debate wins and losses, the reality of everyday life seems far more paramount to the average voter. In the end, while debates may entertain or inform, it’s the economic realities that shape electoral outcomes, and in that arena, Trump remains an enduring force to reckon with.
