For a third of registered voters, the three debates between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton will be crucial factors in deciding who to vote for in November. Statistically, the race is tied, although some polls in Florida, Ohio, and North Carolina show Clinton leading (though it’s unthreatening to assume that from this point on, the polls will remain within the margin of error). These debates could be one of the last opportunities for Clinton and Trump to gain a significant advantage over each other. For newborn voters, these debates are especially crucial because some may give Clinton a second look (via WSJ):
A modern Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll finds that 34% of registered voters think the three presidential debates would be extremely or somewhat crucial in helping them decide who to support in the presidential election. About 11% of voters consider themselves “debate-susceptible” — that is, they think the debates are crucial and are either third-party voters or only loosely committed to the major-party candidates.
Slightly more Republicans than Democrats said the debates would be crucial to them, 37% to 31%. But the groups of voters who seem poised to pay the most attention include several that Mrs. Clinton is counting on to win. About 49% of Latinos, 42% of African-Americans and 39% of voters under 35 say the debates will be extremely or somewhat crucial to them.
As the candidates take the stage, the final vestiges of the electorate are crucial. As we’ve said before, there’s a lot on the line tonight for both Trump and Clinton.
