After President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump faced off during the first presidential debate of the 2024 election cycle, swing state voters were quick to weigh in on the candidates’ performances.
Dan Olszewski — a self-proclaimed socially liberal and fiscally conservative Republican entrepreneur from Wisconsin — said he was the kind of voter who helped secure a victory for Biden in his home state during the 2020 election.
Olszewski said he supported Nikki Haley in the GOP primary this election cycle and won’t support Trump after Jan. 6, however, he reached out to ABC News Thursday night to vent over Biden’s debate performance.
“This is an unmitigated disaster for Biden. Shockingly bad,” he wrote.
Olszewski said the debate didn’t change how he plans to vote, but he doesn’t think Biden has done himself any favors.
“Doesn’t change my perspective since inept is better than evil but not sure how it can help any undecided go toward Biden,” he told ABC News.
President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump participate in the CNN Presidential Debate, June 27, 2024, in Atlanta.
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
In the swing state of North Carolina, voters were sharply divided on the candidates’ debate performances.
At a watch party organized by the Biden campaign, some voters were adamant that Biden had a strong debate performance, while others expressed reservations to ABC News.
“It’s obvious he’s old. He’s over 80 and that’s obvious throughout the debate. However, he’s had several amazing moments,” said Garrett Warner.
When asked by ABC News which moments particularly stuck out to Warner, he said, “I can’t remember any in specific, but there were several moments where Donald Trump said an outrageous thing.”
At a GOP watch party in North Carolina, River Collins told ABC News that Trump won the debate, “You see how articulate he is. He’s very disciplined. President Biden is all over the place. He’s losing his words. He’s saying the wrong words. He’s confused.”
Shannon Flemming, a Biden supporter, told ABC News, “I can tell he’s being very careful with how he speaks and some people might interpret that as being feeble, but we have to remember he has a speech impediment, and therefore, take that into consideration.”
Speaking with ABC News’ White House correspondent MaryAlice Parks, a former Nikki Haley caucus leader in Iowa, who said she once laughed out loud at the idea of voting for Trump, but thought Biden’s performance was a “disaster,” quipping, “I mean wow.”
Thaila Flores from New Hampshire walked away from watching the debate disappointed and confused, telling ABC News “The RNC and DNC are to blame for this,” Flores said. “All they are doing is arguing over who was the worst president. Biden can’t process his thoughts and Trump has not answered a question.”
With less than a five-month countdown to Election Day, and recent projections from 538 placing the candidates at a near-tie among polled voters, the presidential debates are poised to be make-or-break events for Biden or Trump.
The CNN debate marked the first of two debates in the general election season, the second will be hosted by ABC News on Sept. 10.
ABC News’ MaryAlice Parks, Selina Wang and Kelsey Walsh contributed to this report.
As the 2020 presidential election draws closer, swing state voters are closely following the candidates’ performances in debates and on the campaign trail. The recent presidential debate between President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden has sparked a range of reactions among swing state voters, particularly in key battleground states like Florida, Pennsylvania, and Michigan.
Many swing state voters were eager to see how Biden would perform against Trump, who is known for his aggressive debating style. Overall, reactions to Biden’s performance were mixed. Some voters praised Biden for his calm demeanor and ability to stay composed in the face of Trump’s attacks. Others criticized Biden for not being more forceful in his responses and for occasionally stumbling over his words.
In Florida, a crucial swing state with a large population of older voters, many residents were impressed by Biden’s performance. “I thought Biden did a great job of staying focused and not getting rattled by Trump’s interruptions,” said Maria Rodriguez, a retiree from Miami. “I think he showed that he has the temperament and experience to be president.”
In Pennsylvania, another key battleground state with a significant number of working-class voters, opinions on Biden’s performance were more divided. Some voters felt that Biden effectively highlighted his plans for creating jobs and improving healthcare, while others were disappointed by his lack of clarity on certain issues. “I was hoping to hear more specifics from Biden on how he plans to help working families like mine,” said John Smith, a factory worker from Pittsburgh. “I think he missed an opportunity to really connect with voters on economic issues.”
In Michigan, a state that Trump narrowly won in 2016, swing state voters were closely watching the debate to see how Biden would appeal to voters in the Midwest. Many residents were impressed by Biden’s focus on issues like healthcare and racial justice, which are important to voters in the state. “I think Biden did a good job of speaking directly to the concerns of Michigan voters,” said Sarah Johnson, a teacher from Detroit. “I appreciated his commitment to expanding access to affordable healthcare and addressing systemic racism.”
Overall, swing state voters are closely analyzing the candidates’ performances in debates and on the campaign trail as they make their decisions on who to support in the upcoming election. While opinions on Biden’s performance may vary, it is clear that swing state voters are paying close attention to how both candidates are presenting themselves and their policies as they make their final decision at the ballot box.
