Results Released for Battleground Poll Conducted Immediately After Debate

Vice President Kamala Harris received significant assistance from the debate moderators on Tuesday night, but a snap poll released afterward raises questions about whether it had any positive impact on her campaign.

A poll conducted by the Trafalgar Group during and after the debate in Philadelphia showed little shift in support for the candidates.

The poll, conducted in key battleground states that will determine the 2024 election, surveyed 2,245 respondents from Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, North Carolina, Nevada, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin.

The results indicated that a majority of viewers believed Harris won the debate against former President Donald Trump, with 55.3 percent favoring her performance compared to 42.5 percent for Trump.

However, when it came to the crucial issue of which candidate respondents would vote for, the numbers were virtually unchanged from before the debate. Pre-debate, Trump held a slight lead at 47.4 percent to Harris' 46.8 percent. Post-debate, Trump's edge was only marginally slimmer, with 48.2 percent to Harris' 47.9 percent.

In essence, the debate appeared to have no significant effect.

This is despite efforts by ABC moderators David Muir and Linsey Davis to "fact-check" Trump five times throughout the debate, while not doing the same for Harris, according to Fox News.

Fox also reported that Harris made several questionable claims, including mischaracterizing Trump's remarks about the 2017 Charlottesville violence, twisting his comments on the word “bloodbath,” and incorrectly linking him to “Project 2025,” a conservative proposal by the Heritage Foundation that Trump has distanced himself from.

Despite these inaccuracies, the moderators focused only on "fact-checking" Trump, as noted by Fox.

Viewers were aware of the biased handling, much as they have long recognized the media’s bias against Trump.

Even conservative-leaning outlets like the New York Post admitted Trump did not have his strongest performance, with one headline describing him as "rattled." Nonetheless, the Trafalgar poll results were encouraging for Trump and his supporters.

Although some may question the Trafalgar Group’s Republican ties, the group has accurately predicted outcomes in recent elections, including Trump’s 2016 win and Biden’s 2020 victory, according to RealClearPolitics.

Given Trafalgar’s strong track record, its findings hold weight.

Despite an "off-night" for Trump, where he faced a biased media alongside his debate opponent, he managed to retain his lead in the crucial battleground states.

While Harris clearly received support from the moderators, the Trafalgar poll leaves one question unanswered: will it actually help her campaign in these key states?