Vice President Kamala Harris will debate former President Donald Trump in their first presidential debate before the upcoming election. Many experts believe this debate could be a defining moment in the campaign. However, research shows that presidential debates generally do not significantly impact voter choice. While debates can help undecided voters, most viewers are already committed to a candidate.
Looking back at past elections, it is evident that debates have had minimal influence on the final outcome. The 2020 debates between Trump and Biden did not significantly change polling numbers. Similarly, the 2016 debates between Clinton and Trump did not have a significant impact on the polling data.
However, there have been exceptions in the past, such as in 2008 when Obama saw a surge in popularity after the first debate. In some cases, debates have helped boost the chances of specific candidates, especially when they are relatively unknown.
As the Harris-Trump debate approaches, polling data shows a close race between the two candidates. While debates may not sway the majority of voters, they could still play a role in shaping public perception and influencing undecided voters. Ultimately, the impact of the upcoming debate remains to be seen, but history suggests that it is unlikely to drastically change the outcome of the election.
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