2020 election polls: Biden smashes ad spend record as GOP pollster says ‘impossible’ for Trump to be re-elected after debate
Follow the latest updates
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Joe Biden came away from the second and last presidential debate with a dominant lead in snap polling, which showed him with a double-digit advantage over Donald Trump.
Despite the Republican president’s more reserved approach to Thursday night’s clash in Nashville - which was far less chaotic and acrimonious than their previous encounter in Cleveland on 29 September - Mr Trump still came under attack on issues such as the coronavirus, race and climate change.
Veteran GOP pollster Frank Luntz said that Trump may have won the battle of the last debate, but Biden has won the war. He says it's "impossible" for the president turning around voter sentiment this late in the election cycle.
Trump is also up against a campaign that has broken all records for its spend on television and digital advertising in a presidential election, with still more than a week to go before polls close
Despite promising to dig into his own war chest to make up the campaign funding shortfall, Trump is yet to donate his own cash to the last stage of the campaign.
Please allow a moment for our liveblog to load.
Who won the debate?
There were fewer interruptions than in their previous clash, but Donald Trump and Joe Biden’s showdown got bitter quickly. Our US correspondents give their takes on the showdown.
Who won the presidential debate?
There were fewer interruptions than in their previous clash, but Donald Trump and Joe Biden’s showdown got bitter quickly
YouGov snap poll: Biden won debate
Another snap poll claims that the former vice president came out on top in Nashville.
But voters are split over how they felt about the tone of the debate and how it made them feel.
Voters are very much in favour of muting the candidates’ microphones
70 per cent say it made the debate better.
Fact check time — how truthful were Biden and Trump?
Graeme Massie reports as the candidates make their final arguments to American voters.
Four key takeaways from the final debate
Republican and Democratic nominees sparred over coronavirus, personal corruption, North Korea, and leadership. Griffin Connolly offers four key points to consider.
Four key takeaways from Trump and Biden's last presidential debate
Republican and Democratic nominees spar over coronavirus, personal corruption, North Korea, and leadership
What did the instant polls say, on the debate?
Here’s some snap polling on both candidates debate performances, with the Democratic nominee clearly leading his Republican rival.
According to CNN, some 53 per cent of viewers said Mr Biden won the debate, whilst only 39 per cent said Mr Trump had a better night.
YouGov provided similar results, with Mr Biden on 54 per cent, and Mr Trump on 35 per cent - a significant lead of 19 points.
Trump mocked over climate change comments
With the Republican president already polling behind his Democratic opponent in national opinion polls, and with fewer undecided voters to persuade at this debate, Mr Trump did deliver a more coherent performance on stage on Thursday night.
That was until he mentioned "windmills", which he said “kill all the birds” and had“fumes coming up,"
As social media users took to Twitter to scold Mr Trump for those claims, Mr Biden quipped: “Find me a scientist who will say that."
Louise Boyle has the report:
Trump mocked for ludicrous climate change statements during debate
President who has repeatedly called climate change a ‘hoax’ says he plans for a ‘trillion trees’
Will Donald Trump accept the inevitable?
As Holly Baxter writes, when the last 2020 presidential debate had a moment, it was a real moment, with Donald Trump telling NBC’s Kristen Walker, the Black woman moderating, that “I’m the least racist person in this room,”
But in the end, it was Mr Biden that was once again seen to have delivered a stronger performance on the night, and perhaps the Republican president knows it…
The final presidential debate didn’t go well for Trump — and it looks like he knows it
As Biden pointed out, the president seemed confused about who he was actually supposed to be debating
Trump’s struggle with undecided voters
Televised presidential debates can, in typical election years, change the course of an election in it’s final stretch.
But amid multiple crises, most polls show a smaller group of undecided voters who are still to be convinced, as more than 48 million Americans already have already voted - a tally higher than all early ballots cast in 2016.
And while Trump for the most part stayed composed and controlled on the debate stage, he appeared not to try to connect with that fraction of the electorate, who believe he is responsible for a year marked by lockdowns, layoffs, illness and death.
Instead, as polls showing healthcare to be a priority issue, Mr Trump declared that he wants to terminate the 2010 Affordable Care Act, the program known as Obamacare, while still offering no replacement that would protect people with pre-existing health conditions, including COVID-19.
Additional reporting by Reuters
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments