High Anticipation for Thursday’s Presidential Debate
Crucial Event for Campaigns

Many U.S. adults plan to watch Thursday’s presidential debate, seeing it as crucial for both President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump, according to a new poll by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research.

Strong Public Interest

About 6 in 10 adults are likely to watch the debate live, view clips, or read about it through news or social media. Despite its early timing, millions are expected to engage with it.

Importance for Biden and Trump

Half of Americans believe the debate is very important for Biden’s campaign, while 4 in 10 feel it’s crucial for Trump. Most Democrats see it as highly important for Biden, and about half of Republicans feel the same about Trump. Only one-third of independents consider it highly important for either candidate.

Voter Perspectives

Arthur Morris, an undecided voter, is considering Biden, Trump, or a third-party candidate. He has concerns about the mental fitness of the candidates and views Biden’s debate performance as a key test. “I need Biden to show he’s capable of holding this office,” Morris said.

Debate Viewership Plans

About 4 in 10 adults plan to watch or listen to the debate live, while a similar number will view clips or commentary later. Republicans and Democrats are more likely than independents to follow the debate.

Dissatisfaction with Candidates

Biden and Trump face low favorability ratings. About 6 in 10 adults have an unfavorable view of both. Most Americans are dissatisfied with Biden as the likely Democratic nominee and Trump as the probable GOP nominee. Republicans are more satisfied with Trump than Democrats are with Biden.

Biden’s Approval Ratings

Around 4 in 10 adults approve of Biden’s job performance, a number that has stayed consistent. His approval ratings on the economy and abortion policy are similar, but only 3 in 10 approve of his approach to immigration. His handling of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is particularly unpopular, with just 26% approval.

Poll Information

The poll surveyed 1,088 adults from June 20-24, 2024, using NORC’s probability-based AmeriSpeak Panel. The margin of error is ±4.0 percentage points.