How many people will tune in to Biden-Trump presidential debate? What new poll found
Republicans are more likely than Democrats to watch the upcoming debate between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump, new polling reveals.
According to a June 27 Ipsos/Syracuse University poll, 61% of Americans are likely to watch a televised debate between Biden and Trump.
That figure includes 75% of Republicans, 60% of Democrats and 58% of independents.
The debate, set for 9 p.m. E.T. on June 27, will take place in Atlanta and will be hosted by CNN. It is the first of two presidential debates scheduled so far between Trump and Biden.
Conducted between May 17 and May 19, the poll sampled 1,017 U.S. adults and has a margin of error of 3.3 percentage points.
The poll also asked respondents about their opinions on the state of American democracy.
More than two-thirds, 68%, said U.S. democracy “works pretty well for most people,” while more than one-quarter, 28%, said democracy “isn’t working and we need a change.”
Majorities of Democrats (76%), Republicans (71%) and independents (69%) all said American democracy works well for most people.
Additionally, about half of respondents, 49%, said Trump poses a serious threat to democracy and the rule of law, while 34% said the same of Biden.
Responses were skewed heavily based on partisanship, with 81% of Democrats saying Trump poses a threat and 65% of Republicans saying Biden does. A slim majority of independents, 52%, said Trump represents a major threat to democracy.
Respondents were also asked about their views on the state of journalism in America.
Less than half, 45%, said reporters are essential to safeguarding democracy, while less than one-quarter, 22%, said they “trust most mainstream news outlets to give them facts, whether or not they agree with them.”
Further, 34% said they find it difficult to determine which news outlets they can trust, and 20% said they do not trust any media outlets.
This story was originally published June 27, 2024 at 1:31 PM with the headline "How many people will tune in to Biden-Trump presidential debate? What new poll found."