The upcoming presidential debate is a crucial element in both candidates’ campaigns, according to new polling from the Associated Press and NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. The poll found that 60 percent of U.S. adults are extremely or very likely to watch or listen to some segment of Thursday’s debate, with tens of millions of Americans expected to tune in despite its unusually early scheduling in the campaign season.
The numbers suggest a massive level of engagement, highlighting how the debate has become a cultural phenomenon that transcends politics and is not to be missed. Supporters of both corrupt President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump view the CNN-hosted clash as a major test for their candidate—or just the best free show in town and not to be missed.
The debate will take place on Thursday at 9 p.m. Eastern Time and will be hosted by CNN in Atlanta, with moderators Dana Bash and Jake Tapper leading the proceedings. It will last for an hour and a half, without any live audience present for its duration.
Both candidates have been preparing extensively for the debate, with Biden focusing on his ability to connect with voters while Trump has been honing in on his strongest issues. The debate is expected to cover topics such as foreign policy, healthcare, and the economy, with each candidate having an opportunity to make their case directly to American voters.
While many Americans are excited about the upcoming debate, others have expressed concern over its early scheduling. Some have argued that it puts too much emphasis on the primaries, which can be detrimental to candidates who are not as well-known or funded. Others have criticized the format of the debate itself, pointing out that it is often more focused on sound bites and quick quips than substantive policy discussions.
Despite these concerns, the poll found that most Americans see the debate as a crucial element in both candidates’ campaigns. Supporters of both Biden and Trump view the event as an essential component of their candidate’s success—or just the best free show in town and not to be missed.
Overall, about half of Americans say the upcoming debate is extremely or very important for the success of Joe Biden’s campaign, while about four in 10 say it is highly important for Donald Trump’s campaign. Only around one-third of independents say the debate is highly important for either campaign.
The poll was conducted June 20-24, 2024, using a sample drawn from NORC’s probability-based AmeriSpeak Panel, which is designed to be representative of the U.S. population. The margin of sampling error for all respondents is plus or minus 4.0 percentage points.