Most U.S. adults are planning to watch some aspect of the upcoming presidential debate on Thursday, and many believe it will be significant for both President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump’s campaigns, as per a recent poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research.
Despite their overall unpopularity, both candidates are gearing up for their first face-off since 2020. Trump, the expected Republican nominee, maintains a slight enthusiasm edge with his supporters compared to President Biden, the Democratic incumbent.
Around 60% of U.S. adults express a high likelihood of watching the debate live, in clips, or reading about and listening to commentary on the candidates’ performance from news sources or social media.
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The poll indicates that millions of Americans are expected to catch at least some part of Thursday’s debate, despite its early timing in the campaign season. Supporters on both sides view the debate as a crucial test for their candidate or an unmissable spectacle.
“I think it’s super important,” said Victoria Perdomo, a Trump supporter in Coral Springs, Florida. “It shows America what you’re going to see for the next four years.”
Nic Greene, a libertarian voter, leans towards Trump as the “least worst candidate” and plans to tune in for entertainment value and post-debate analysis on podcasts.
“I think the majority of people have their minds made up with or without these debates,” Greene remarked. “It’s a circus.”
Both sides see the debate as important
Approximately 47% of Americans believe the debate is crucial for Biden’s campaign success, while about 40% see it as significant for Trump’s campaign. Close to 30% consider it highly important for both candidates.
Most Democrats (55%) view the upcoming debate as extremely or very important for Biden’s campaign, while around half of Republicans (51%) feel the same for Trump’s campaign. Only about one-third of independents regard the debate as highly important for either candidate.
Arthur Morris, an undecided voter, is open to Biden, Trump, or a third-party option like Robert F. Kennedy Jr. He shares common concerns about the candidates’ mental capabilities, viewing Biden’s performance in the debate as a decisive factor.
Trump, on the other hand, needs to rebuild trust following recent events, according to Morris. About 40% of Americans intend to watch or listen to the debate live, with a similar number planning to catch clips later on. Republicans and Democrats are more engaged in following debate coverage compared to independents.
Voters are still unhappy about their options
Both Biden and Trump enter the debate with low favorability ratings. A majority of Americans have an unfavorable view of both candidates.
More than half of Americans express dissatisfaction with Biden and Trump being their party’s likely nominees. Republicans are generally more satisfied with Trump’s re-nomination than Democrats are with Biden’s prospects. Independents and Democrats are more likely to be dissatisfied with both candidates.
Republican and Democrat voters tend to have a negative view of the opposing party’s candidate rather than a positive one of their own.
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Trump’s approval rating among Republicans is higher than Biden’s among Democrats. Views on their handling of various issues vary among the American population.
The conflict between Israel and Palestine remains a sensitive topic for Biden, with a majority disapproving of his approach. The poll surveyed 1,088 adults from June 20-24, 2024, with a margin of error of plus or minus 4.0 percentage points.
