A recent CNN instant poll conducted by SSRS found that registered voters who watched the debate between vice presidential nominees Tim Walz and JD Vance were split on which candidate did a better job. However, both candidates left viewers with more positive views of them than they held before the debate. Despite Walz being seen more positively and in touch with the needs of voters, Vance performed beyond expectations and gained ground in perceptions of his qualifications and his ability to defend his running mate. The majority of debate watchers saw both candidates as qualified to assume the presidency if necessary, and very few voters changed their minds based on the debate.
Following the debate, 51% of viewers said Vance did a better job, compared to 49% who picked Walz. This marked a shift from prior expectations, where Walz was favored by a slightly larger margin. The divided opinions from the debate watchers were in stark contrast to the audience reactions following the presidential debates earlier in the year, which had more decisive outcomes. Views of the vice presidential candidates largely followed political allegiances, with Trump supporters favoring Vance and Harris supporters favoring Walz.
The poll’s results reflect the opinions of debate watchers and do not necessarily represent the views of the full voting public. The audience for the debate skewed more Democratic, unlike the audiences for the presidential debates which were slightly more Republican-leaning. While the immediate reactions to the debate were important, the discussions in the following days could have a significant impact on voter perceptions. Both Walz and Vance saw improvements in their favorability among debate watchers, with Walz gaining more support among women and Vance making gains among all voters.
Among all Americans polled prior to the debate, Walz had a slightly more positive rating compared to Vance. The majority of debate watchers believed that both candidates were qualified to serve as president if necessary, with Walz having a stronger edge in terms of relating to their needs and sharing their vision for America. There was a notable gender gap in perceptions, with female voters overwhelmingly favoring Walz in terms of sharing their vision for America. Additionally, Vance was seen as doing a better job defending his running mate by a narrow margin.
Overall, only a minimal percentage of voters said the debate had altered their voting decisions, with supporters of both Harris and Trump largely unaffected by the event. The poll consisted of 574 registered US voters who watched the debate and was conducted via text message. Results were representative of debate watchers and had a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 5.3 percentage points. It is evident from the poll that while the debate may have influenced some voters’ perceptions of the candidates, the impact on actual voting behavior was minimal.
