The negativity of the first presidential debate got a similar reaction from American voters, according to a new Axios|SurveyMonkey poll conducted after the acrimonious showdown in Cleveland.
Fully 55% of all voters were “disappointed” by the debate, and another 24% were downright “angry.” The negative views are broadly shared by supporters of both major party candidates, but voters backing President Trump were far more apt than former vice president Joe Biden’s to be “excited” (19% vs. 5%) or “relieved” (14% vs. 7%).
At the same time, the president fares worse relative to expectations. Three times as many voters indicated Trump performed worse than expected compared with those who shared that view of Biden (39% vs. 13%).
Overall, two-thirds of survey respondents said they tuned into all or some of Tuesday’s debate.
In general, Democrats were largely satisfied with Biden’s performance at the debate: 38% say he did better than expected, 56% about as expected, and just 5% say he did worse than expected.
View the full results by partisanship below.
Read more about our polling methodology here.
Do you have a favorable or unfavorable impression of Joe Biden?
Gender Answer Total Male Female Unweighted N 2,618 1,261 1,320 Net Favorable 44%38%50%Strongly favorable 20%16%23%Somewhat favorable 25%22%27%Net Unfavorable 45%53%37%Somewhat unfavorable 13%15%12%Strongly unfavorable 31%38%25%Don't know enough to say 9%7%10%No answer 2%2%3%Question wording: Do you have a favorable or unfavorable impression of Joe Biden?Survey dates: –Do you have a favorable or unfavorable impression of Donald Trump?
Gender Answer Total Male Female Unweighted N 2,618 1,261 1,320 Net Favorable 40%47%33%Strongly favorable 25%31%21%Somewhat favorable 14%17%12%Net Unfavorable 53%46%59%Somewhat unfavorable 7%7%7%Strongly unfavorable 46%39%52%Don't know enough to say 4%5%4%No answer 3%2%3%Question wording: Do you have a favorable or unfavorable impression of Donald Trump?Survey dates: –Do you have a favorable or unfavorable impression of Mike Pence?
Gender Answer Total Male Female Unweighted N 2,618 1,261 1,320 Net Favorable 38%47%30%Strongly favorable 23%29%19%Somewhat favorable 15%18%12%Net Unfavorable 41%34%47%Somewhat unfavorable 11%9%12%Strongly unfavorable 30%25%35%Don't know enough to say 18%17%19%No answer 3%2%4%Question wording: Do you have a favorable or unfavorable impression of Mike Pence?Survey dates: –Do you have a favorable or unfavorable impression of Kamala Harris?
Gender Answer Total Male Female Unweighted N 2,618 1,261 1,320 Net Favorable 39%33%45%Strongly favorable 20%16%23%Somewhat favorable 20%17%22%Net Unfavorable 37%46%28%Somewhat unfavorable 8%9%7%Strongly unfavorable 29%37%21%Don't know enough to say 21%18%23%No answer 3%3%3%Question wording: Do you have a favorable or unfavorable impression of Kamala Harris?Survey dates: –Did you happen to watch all or part of the first presidential debate between Donald Trump and Joe Biden that was held on Tuesday, September 29th?
Gender Answer Total Male Female Unweighted N 2,618 1,261 1,320 Yes, I watched all or part 67%69%64%I did not watch but I followed coverage of it 16%16%17%I did not watch and I haven’t followed coverage of it 15%13%17%No answer 2%2%2%Question wording: Did you happen to watch all or part of the first presidential debate between Donald Trump and Joe Biden that was held on Tuesday, September 29th?Survey dates: –Do you think Joe Biden’s debate performance was: (AMONG THOSE WHO WATCHED OR FOLLOWED)
Gender Answer Total Male Female Unweighted N 2,319 1,139 1,147 Better than expected 26%24%27%About as expected 59%60%58%Worse than expected 13%15%12%No answer 2%1%3%Question wording: Do you think Joe Biden’s debate performance was: (AMONG THOSE WHO WATCHED OR FOLLOWED)Survey dates: –Do you think Donald Trump’s debate performance was: (AMONG THOSE WHO WATCHED OR FOLLOWED)
Gender Answer Total Male Female Unweighted N 2,319 1,139 1,147 Better than expected 7%8%6%About as expected 52%56%49%Worse than expected 39%35%42%No answer 2%1%2%Question wording: Do you think Donald Trump’s debate performance was: (AMONG THOSE WHO WATCHED OR FOLLOWED)Survey dates: –After the debate, do you feel mostly: (AMONG THOSE WHO WATCHED OR FOLLOWED)
Gender Answer Total Male Female Unweighted N 2,319 1,139 1,147 Excited 10%14%7%Relieved 10%11%9%Disappointed 53%54%52%Angry 23%18%28%No answer 3%2%4%Question wording: After the debate, do you feel mostly: (AMONG THOSE WHO WATCHED OR FOLLOWED)Survey dates: –Will you definitely vote this way or is there a chance you could change your mind and vote the other way?
Gender Answer Total Male Female Unweighted N 2,618 1,261 1,320 Definitely voting this way 82%82%82%Chance I could change my mind 14%15%13%No answer 4%4%5%Question wording: Will you definitely vote this way or is there a chance you could change your mind and vote the other way?Survey dates: –