Democratic candidate Kamala Harris was named the winner of the first televised debate for the 2024 US presidential election against Republican Donald Trump, according to a CNN poll conducted in collaboration with research company SSRS. The poll revealed that 63% of respondents believed Harris performed better, while 37% favored Trump. The survey’s margin of error is +/- 5.3%.
Before the debate, the polling data was evenly split, with 50% of respondents predicting a win for Harris and the same percentage expecting Trump to emerge victorious.
This debate, organized by ABC News, took place in Philadelphia on September 10, 2024. Harris and Trump clashed over various domestic and foreign policy issues, with both candidates accusing each other of dishonesty. Harris, 59, who made history as the first female, Black, and Asian vice president of the US, previously served as California’s attorney general.
Harris entered the race for the presidency following President Joe Biden’s announcement on July 21 that he would not seek a second term in order to support the Democratic Party’s interests. Biden endorsed Harris as the party’s candidate, boosting her bid to become the first female president of the United States.
Donald Trump, a 78-year-old businessman, served as US president from 2017 to 2021. In the 2020 election, Trump lost to Joe Biden but refused to concede, claiming widespread voter fraud. On January 6, 2021, his supporters stormed the Capitol in an effort to block Congress from certifying Biden’s win. The violent riot led to five deaths, including a police officer, and over 1,000 individuals were charged for their involvement. Trump also faces legal cases connected to the events.
The 2024 US presidential election is set for November 5, 2024.
