CNN Poll: After Debate, Even More Voters Trust Trump On Economy

A CNN poll conducted immediately after the debate between former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris revealed that Trump's lead over Harris regarding voter trust on the economy increased from +16 percent to +20 percent.

CNN’s Jake Tapper introduced the poll results, addressing CNN political director David Chalian, saying, “The first results of our instant poll of debate-watchers have just come in, and David Chalian is here to break it all down. David, tell us more.”

Chalian responded by clarifying, “Yeah, Jake, and as you mentioned, this is a poll of debate watchers. It doesn’t represent the entire population, though the partisan breakdown is pretty close to what the overall registered voter population looks like in the country.”

Later, Chalian shared the results of a poll that asked debate viewers which candidate, Trump or Harris, they trusted more on the economy. Before the debate, Trump held a 16-point advantage over Harris (53%–37%), but after the debate, his lead grew to 20% (55%–35%).

During the debate, Trump commented on the economy, stating, “We’ve had a terrible economy because of inflation—which is really known as a country buster. It breaks up countries. We have inflation like very few people have ever seen before. Probably the worst in our nation’s history. … everyone knows I’m an open book. Everybody knows what I’m going to do: cut taxes very substantially and create a great economy like I did before. We had the greatest economy.”

As reported by The Daily Wire, voters have been expressing for months that the economy is their top priority:

– CBS News, September 10: “About 8 in 10 adults tell CBS News that the economy is a major factor in their voting decision, surpassing issues like abortion and climate change.”

– The Economist/YouGov poll, August 11-13: 73% of respondents stated that jobs and the economy were very important to them, far exceeding any other issue.

– Statista, July 30: “A survey conducted in July 2024 found that 25 percent of Americans considered inflation and prices to be the most important issue, with an additional ten percent focusing on jobs and the economy.”

– Data For Progress, March 6: From July 2023 to February 2024, inflation “held the top spot for the majority of the time” among issues important to voters.

Trump has also gained substantial ground over Harris, making significant strides with independents and Latino voters, gaining approximately 14 points among independents and 19 points among Latinos.

According to NPR/PBS News/Marist polling, Trump, 78, has now surpassed Harris, 59, by three points among independents in a multi-candidate race, with 49% to Harris’s 46%. This is a notable improvement for Trump, who in August trailed Harris by 11 points, with Harris leading 48% to Trump’s 37%.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who had earned 12% in previous polls, dropped out of the race and endorsed Trump between the August and September surveys. Additionally, Harris’s initial “honeymoon” period after her unexpected rise to the nomination appears to be stabilizing.

In August, Trump led Harris by 15 points among Latino voters, with 54% to her 39%. Now, Trump’s lead has narrowed to four points, with 51% to Harris’s 47%.

The poll also revealed that nearly 70% of Americans said they planned to watch the debate, while 30% of registered voters believed it could impact their voting decision. However, 69% of respondents felt it likely wouldn’t have a significant effect.

In another promising sign for Trump, he reduced his deficit against Harris in a national race by two points, with Harris maintaining a slim edge.

In the most recent survey of registered voters in a multi-candidate contest, Harris narrowly beat Trump 49% to 48%. In August, Harris led Trump 48% to 45% in a similar poll.