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"Two old sluggers in the ring"
Last night's debate featured two candidates with a combined age of 159. Already fighting voter concerns about his age, Biden, was halting and seemed to lose his train of thought, sparking quick concerns among Democrats. Trump made repeated false claims and provocative statements, but seemed smoother and more vigorous than Biden, who is only three years older than the Republican ex-president.
ATLANTA - President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump faced off in their first 2024 presidential debate on Thursday night, making their cases before a national television audience.
The men argued over several issues, including abortion, the economy, age, the criminal convictions of Trump and Biden’s son Hunter.
Presidential debate fact check: A look at some of the false claims made by Biden, Trump
Biden’s raspy voice caught viewers' attention, which his campaign said was the result of a cold. The president sometimes mumbled, got tongue-tied or lost his train of thought – a performance unlikely to calm anxiety among Democrats and many Americans about the 81-year-old president.
Meanwhile, the 78-year-old Trump spoke with force but with some falsehoods, too.
Who won the presidential debate?
During the debate and after, LiveNOW from FOX asked viewers in an unscientific poll who they think won based on their performance, and over 79,000 people weighed in.
An overwhelming majority (93.7%) voted for Trump over Biden (6.30%).
FOX 5 DC also asked viewers who they believed had the best showing in the debate. In that poll, Trump also came out on top – earning 71% of the vote compared to Biden’s 27%.
Another 2% thought it was a tie.
The results of FOX 5 DC's poll after the first presidential debate on June 27, 2024.
A CNN flash poll of debate watchers had similar results, with 67% saying Trump won, compared to 33% who voted for Biden's performance.
What was the most important part of the debate?
FOX 32 Chicago, meanwhile, asked viewers what they felt was the most important part of the debate. More than 200 people responded, with "performance" earning the highest number of votes at 46%.
"Direct answers" received 33%, while "honesty" earned 12% of the vote.
The results of FOX 32 Chicago's poll after the first presidential debate on June 27, 2024.
Did the presidential debate change your vote?
When asked whether the debate changed viewers' vote by FOX 35 Orlando, an overwhelming 93% of respondents said no.
The results of FOX 35 Orlando's poll after the first presidential debate on June 27, 2024.
This story was reported from Cincinnati.