Undecided Voters Stun Liberals, Overwhelmingly Pick Trump Post-Debate

The mainstream media generally praised Vice President Kamala Harris for her performance during Tuesday night’s debate, but undecided voters may still be up for grabs.

Several American viewers told Reuters after watching the debate that they remain unconvinced Harris is the stronger candidate.

Reuters invited ten undecided voters to watch the 90-minute debate and share their reactions. Surprisingly, six said they would definitely or likely vote for Donald Trump, three leaned toward supporting Harris, and one remained undecided—an unexpected shift.

Many voters expressed that before considering Harris, they needed her to provide clearer answers on how she would fund her expensive proposals.

When it came to issues like housing and the rising cost of living, five respondents described Harris as “vague.”

“I still don’t know what she stands for,” said Mark Kadish, a 61-year-old entrepreneur from Florida. “There were no concrete details in her plans.” Robert Wheeler, 48, a security firm executive from Nevada who had been leaning toward Harris, said her debate performance made him more committed to voting for Trump, whom he believes has laid out more concrete policies. “It felt like Kamala spent the debate telling me why not to vote for Trump rather than convincing me she’s the right choice,” Wheeler said.

The focus group, consisting of four women and six men, with eight white and two Black participants, was designed to represent a diverse sample of undecided voters in battleground states.

On Wednesday, further concerns emerged as additional undecided voters voiced their dissatisfaction with Harris, despite widespread media claims that she won the debate.

The 90-minute ABC News debate featured both candidates exchanging attacks. Trump responded strongly to Harris’s criticisms of his policies and leadership.

Aside from a few comments on tax breaks for small businesses and working families, Harris avoided answering several direct questions.

This strategy could backfire, especially after her campaign was recently accused of copying sections from President Joe Biden’s policy platform. Notably, her website no longer features positions she previously supported, such as funding gender reassignment surgery for prisoners and immigrants and decriminalizing hard drugs.

Trump seems to have gained ground following the debate, particularly with independent and Latino voters.

New polling from NPR/PBS News/Marist shows Trump, 78, pulling ahead of Harris, 59, among independents, leading 49% to 46%. This marks a significant improvement for Trump, who trailed Harris by 11 points in August.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who had previously garnered 12% support, dropped out and endorsed Trump between the August and September polls. Meanwhile, Harris’s initial surge after her nomination appears to be fading.

Trump also improved among Latino voters, narrowing the gap from a 15-point deficit in August to now leading Harris by four points, 51% to 47%.

As Dr. Lee M. Miringoff, director of the Marist Institute for Public Opinion, noted, “When Trump and Harris face off in Philadelphia, the stakes are incredibly high given how close the race is.”

The poll shows that voters prioritize different traits in the candidates: Harris is favored by those who value honesty, while Trump appeals to voters who want strong leadership.

Almost 70% of Americans said they planned to watch the debate, with 30% of registered voters saying it could impact their decision. However, 69% believe the debate will likely not sway their choice.

In a further boost for Trump, he has closed the gap in national polling, trailing Harris by just one point. In the most recent poll, Harris led 49% to 48%, compared to a three-point lead in August when Harris was ahead 48% to 45%.