Updated |
What Went Down During The First Presidential Debate
The candidates are discussing health care, which is the third most important issue named by respondents to the FiveThirtyEight/Ipsos poll. However, Biden supporters are much more likely to name it as a top issue than Trump supporters.
COVID-19 and the economy are Americans’ top two issues
Share of respondents who named each issue as the top one facing the U.S., according to a FiveThirtyEight/Ipsos poll
| issue | share of | all Respondents |
|---|---|---|
| COVID-19 | 31.7% | |
| The economy | 21.6 | |
| Health care | 7.9 | |
| Racial inequality | 7.4 | |
| Climate change | 5.2 | |
| Violent crime | 4.8 | |
| The Supreme Court | 4.5 | |
| Economic inequality | 3.0 | |
| Immigration | 2.8 | |
| Education | 2.6 | |
| Abortion | 2.3 | |
| Gun policy | 1.9 | |
| Other | 1.6 |
Here we go, Trump trying to align Biden with Sanders and “the far left.”
To add on to Julia’s point, I also think debates now largely serve as a way to get soundbites and quotes for campaign materials. In as much as you think political advertising matters, then debates matter indirectly.