Updates to our Terms of Use

We are updating our Terms of Use. Please carefully review the updated Terms before proceeding to our website.

Thursday, March 28, 2024 | Back issues
Courthouse News Service Courthouse News Service

Snap Polls Crown Clinton Clear Debate Winner

(CN) - Two snap polls conducted immediately after Monday's presidential candidate debate in New York found that voters nationally believe Democrat Hillary Clinton handily won her first face-to-face showdown with Republican Donald Trump.

According to a Public Policy Polling survey sponsored by VoteVets Action Fund, 51 percent of likely voters surveyed thought Clinton won the much-anticipated debate at Hofstra University. Forty-one percent thought Trump won.

More importantly, since the debates are seen for a way to reach voters who have yet to commit to a candidate, Clinton appears to have made inroads with at least one group that's held her at arm's length younger voters.

Sixty-three percent of likely voters in their early 20s or younger came away believing Clinton won the debate, compared to just 24 percent who thought Trump won.

Of voters age 18 to 29, 47 percent said they are now more likely to vote for Clinton, compared to only 10 percent who said they are now less likely to vote for her.

Only 23 percent of voters age 18 to 29 said they are more likely to vote for Trump, while 39 percent said they are now less likely to do so.

Clinton also won the debate by particularly wide margins with women (54 percent to 36 percent) and voters who are either African American or Latino (77 percent to 13 percent).

Among white voters the debate was effectively a draw with Trump coming out ahead 47 percent to 45 percent.

Among the survey's other findings: By a 17 point margin (55 percent to 38 percent), voters said Clinton has the temperament to be President.

On the other hand, by an 11 point margin, (42 percent to 53 percent) voters said Trump does not have the temperament to be President.

Among independents the gap is even wider- by a 56 percent to 36 percent spread they said Clinton has the temperament for the job, while by a 41 percent to 54 percent spread they said Trump does not.

Voters participating in the survey also said, by an 11 point margin (52 percent to 41 percent) that they believe Clinton is prepared to be president.

On the other hand, by a 10 point margin (42 percent to 52 percent), voters say Trump is not prepared to be President.

A CNN/ORC International poll of registered voters who watched the debate found that 62 percent of viewers thought Clinton won versus 27 percent who thought Trump did so.

Of CNN's respondents, 34 percent said the debate had made them more likely to vote for Clinton while 18 percent said it had made them more likely to vote for Trump.

Preliminary results from Nielsen suggest that 80.9 million tuned in for the debate. The company is expected to release its formal estimate Tuesday evening.

Photo caption:

Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump and Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton shake hands during the presidential debate at Hofstra University in Hempstead, N.Y., Monday, Sept. 26, 2016. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

Categories / Uncategorized

Subscribe to Closing Arguments

Sign up for new weekly newsletter Closing Arguments to get the latest about ongoing trials, major litigation and hot cases and rulings in courthouses around the U.S. and the world.

Loading...