Donald Trump Sees 2-Point Post-Debate Boost, Campaign Says

While polls largely showed that Vice President Kamala Harris won Tuesday’s debate with former President Donald Trump, his campaign claimed a slight boost in poll numbers, according to a confidential memo.
The September 12 memo detailed data from a survey of 1,893 likely voters across seven key states, showing Trump ahead by three percentage points, 50 percent to 47 percent, in the crucial final stretch before the 2024 election.
Authored by senior campaign strategists Tony Fabrizio and Travis Tunis, the document argued that Harris’ debate performance did not resonate with voters, with her support remaining steady compared to pre-debate numbers.
“Despite the best efforts of Kamala Harris and the media to portray the debate as an overwhelming win for her, voters did not see it this way,” the memo stated.
However, a recent Reuters/Ipsos national poll conducted after the debate to gauge its impact showed Harris leading Trump 47 percent to 42 percent among registered voters.
This five-point lead marked a slight improvement for Harris, up from her four-point lead in the same poll from August 21-28. The Reuters/Ipsos poll, one of the first major national surveys conducted post-debate, surveyed 1,690 U.S. adults, including 1,405 registered voters.
A CNN flash poll echoed these results, with about 60 percent of debate-watchers believing Harris performed better, while 40 percent favored Trump.
While these national polls offer insight into voter sentiment, the Electoral College will ultimately decide the election, with battleground states like Pennsylvania, Georgia and Wisconsin playing a decisive role.
Riding the momentum of her debate performance, Harris’ campaign quickly challenged Trump to another debate, with Fox News offering to host. Though no second debate is scheduled, both campaigns have shown varying degrees of interest.
Harris’ team stated: “What they saw tonight is what they’ll see at a second debate in October. Vice President Harris is ready. Is Donald Trump?”
Trump, however, dismissed the idea of a rematch, suggesting Harris’ team wanted another debate because they felt they had lost. He posted on Truth Social, “When a prizefighter loses a fight, the first words out of his mouth are, ‘I WANT A REMATCH.'”
Despite both campaigns claiming victory, the debate didn’t significantly change viewers’ opinions. Most said it didn’t impact their decision, though the CNN poll noted that Trump supporters were more likely than Harris supporters to reconsider their choice.
The next showdown will be the vice presidential debate on October 1, hosted by CBS News, between Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, Harris’ running mate, and Ohio Senator JD Vance, Trump’s.