CNN Debate Poll: 63 Percent Say Donald Trump ‘Did Better Than Expected’

A CNN poll conducted before and after the second presidential debate finds almost two thirds of respondents think GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump performed better than they expected.

After the exchange, 63 percent said that Trump did a better job than they expected, while 21 percent said he did worse. Thirty-nine percent said Clinton performed better than they expected, while 26 said she performed worse.

Fifty-seven percent said Clinton did the best job, while 34 percent said the same of Trump.

The debate did not budge voters’ unfavorable views of Trump: 34 percent viewed him favorably and 64 percent viewed him unfavorably, respectively.

According to CNN: “Fifty-eight percent of debate watchers said they were supporting Clinton before the debate.”

CNN polled 537 registered voters who watched the presidential debate on Oct. 9 after first interviewing them between Oct. 5 and Oct. 8. Thirty-six percent of respondents were Democrats, 27 percent were Republicans, and 37 percent identified as independents.