Undecided voter focus group leans toward Trump after debate
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U.S. President Biden, right, and former U.S. President Trump during the first presidential debate in Atlanta, Georgia on June 27. Photo: Eva Marie Uzcategui/Bloomberg via Getty Images
All undecided voters in a U.S. swing states focus group hosted by pollster Frank Luntz said President Biden should be replaced as the Democratic nominee after watching his first presidential debate against former President Trump.
Why it matters: The 2024 presidential election will be decided by roughly 6% of voters in key swing states.
- Luntz, who has conducted presidential focus groups since 1996, said he never witnessed one reach a "conclusion this overwhelming."
Driving the news: Of 14 voters from Pennsylvania, Georgia, Arizona, Michigan, Nevada and North Carolina, 12 said the debate made them lean toward electing Trump, one toward Biden and one remained undecided.
- Nine of the participants said they voted for Biden in 2020.
State of play: Most voters expressed concern over Biden's mental state and his ability to lead, following some rambling answers from the president.
- "I thought he was going to be a little more forceful tonight, similar to the State of the Union," said John Farley, of Pennsylvania.
- "I just have no confidence in him," said Emily Murphy of Georgia, "and he dropped the ball."
Behind the scenes: House Democrats expressed worry for their party during the debate.
Reality check: All participants said that the impending election forces them to choose between the "least worst of two bad candidates," rather than the "better of two good candidates."
- That sentiment is reflected more widely among a quarter of Americans who hold unfavorable views of both Biden and Trump, the highest share of "double haters" at this stage in any of the last 10 elections.
- "I wish we could replace the whole ticket — Kamala, Trump, Joe — all of them and start fresh," said Pierce Pliapol, of North Carolina.
What they're saying: The economy, immigration and foreign policy were debate topics that stuck out to the viewers.
- Amy Brannock of Pennsylvania said she's concerned about the economy under Biden's presidency, having recently learned that she'll soon lose her job of 13 years. She leaned toward Trump, despite describing him as a "loose cannon."
Zoom in: Thomas Riddick of Arizona, who walked away still undecided, said his vote is normally a "monetary choice." This year, though, he expects it to be a "moral choice."
- "Which rights are going to be taken away the next time?" he said. To him, women's rights are "just the beginning."
Between the lines: In pre-debate polling, Republicans said they were more invested in watching the face-off than Democrats or independents.
Go deeper: Democrats may want to replace Biden, but it's his call
