The last presidential debate of the 2020 election is in the books. Thursday night’s debate seemed more civil than past match-ups between President Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden — with less name-calling and fewer interruptions.
Local Republican pollster Chuck Coughlin said the debate probably didn’t change any minds — and the president choosing to focus on corruption allegations against Biden’s son Hunter seemed futile.
“I don’t think it’s going to change anybody’s mind — the Biden voters are going to be Biden voters, the Trump voters are going to be Trump voters, and these things are only reinforcing," Coughlin said. "Trump voters will see it as righteous, Biden voters will see it as abuse of family members.”
Independent pollster Jim Heath said that, while the debate was more civil, Trump probably didn’t win over any more voters.
“Most Americans have made their verdict on Donald Trump and whether they want him to have another four years," Heath said. "And I’m not sure that there’s anything that he could have said tonight ... and certainly he unleashed some doozies as far as fact checking goes. ... I just don’t think that that’s going to change the needle much.”
Both pollsters had high praise for moderator Kristen Welker, who managed to keep the debate on track and both candidates in line.
