Harris leads Trump in first national poll after debate

In a national poll conducted by Reuters/Ipsos following the recent presidential debate, Vice President Kamala Harris emerged with a slight lead over former President Donald Trump, garnering 47% of registered voters compared to Trump's 42%. This poll, the first of its kind since the debate, reflects a significant perception shift among voters regarding the candidates' performances. A majority of respondents, 53%, believed Harris won the debate, while only 24% felt Trump was victorious. The debate attracted over 67 million viewers, providing Harris with a crucial platform to present her policies to a broader audience. The results indicate a stark contrast in opinions between party lines, with 91% of Democrats declaring Harris the winner, while only 53% of Republicans felt Trump performed well. This suggests a potential rift within the Republican base regarding Trump's debate performance. Moreover, the poll revealed that 52% of respondents perceived Trump as lacking sharpness during the debate, in contrast to just 21% who felt the same about Harris. This perception could have implications for Trump's campaign strategy moving forward, as he has publicly attributed his performance to media bias and has been hesitant about participating in future debates. The CNN poll conducted on the same night echoed these findings, with 63% of viewers favoring Harris. Trump's post-debate comments, including a compliment towards Harris's performance, indicate an acknowledgment of the challenges he faces in the upcoming election cycle.