How will debate performance impact ratings for Clinton, Trump?
With post-debate polls giving Hillary Clinton a slight lead, Donald Trump is under pressure to prepare more, focus more and attack Clinton more in the next debate.
WASHINGTON — Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump spent more meaningful time together during the past week than at any point since she attended The Donald’s third wedding. But this wasn’t a social affair — it was the first of three scheduled presidential debates.
All week, political professionals in the capital city and around the country waited to see whether voters agreed with the assessment of the pundits who pronounced Clinton the clear winner. But if one thing has been consistent in the wild 2016 presidential campaign, it’s that the opinions of the elites don’t always conform to the view in the grassroots. What would the polls show?
Those post-debate polls began trickling in late in the week — and represented a bit of good news for Democrats. Rasmussen Reports, which previously had Trump ahead by 5 percentage points, released a survey Thursday showing a 1-point Clinton lead — a swing of 6 points. Public Policy Polling (a Democratic firm), which had not polled immediately before the debate, released a survey showing Clinton leading by 44% to 40%. RealClearPolitics’ David Byler has more details here.
In addition, RealClearPolitics’ Rebecca Berg attended a focus group of undecided voters in Pennsylvania who watched the debate — and most of them agreed that Clinton gave a better accounting of herself than Trump did.
