Donald Trump Dominates Kamala Harris in Debate, According to Cuban Audience

A survey conducted this Wednesday on the Facebook page of CiberCuba Noticias, primarily aimed at a Cuban audience, shows a clear preference for Donald Trump in the recent presidential debate against Kamala Harris, just under two months before the November 5 elections in the United States.

This result is intriguing when compared to other national polls in the U.S., such as one by CNN, which declared Harris the winner with a 63% advantage over Trump's 37% in the 90-minute debate held on Tuesday night. The first presidential debate, hosted at ABC News studios in Philadelphia, covered key issues like immigration, abortion, the U.S. economy, and conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine.

Contrasting Audience Preferences

The contrast between these surveys highlights how the Cuban audience in Florida and the broader Latin community may have different preferences compared to the general U.S. public. The survey results were as follows:

Donald Trump: 521 votes
Kamala Harris: 126 votes
Neutral: 269 opinions

The majority of survey participants are Cuban, with a significant presence in Florida, a crucial state in U.S. elections. This support reflects the trend of Cuban and Latin votes in the state, which in recent years have leaned towards the Republican Party.

Comparison with National Polls

In contrast to the CiberCuba survey, general media outlets like CNN and ABC show Democratic candidate Kamala Harris as the debate winner. CNN's poll indicated that 63% of viewers favored the current vice president, while 37% supported former Republican president Trump.

The disparity between these polls underscores the demographic impact on debate perceptions. While the Cuban and Latin audience in Florida has shown a preference for Trump, national results suggest Harris has broader appeal.

The Cuban and Latin vote in Florida has historically been crucial in U.S. elections. The Cuban community, especially in South Florida, has been a stronghold of support for Republican candidates due to their opposition to socialist regimes and affinity for more conservative policies. This was evident in previous elections where Trump garnered significant support among Latino voters, particularly Cuban Americans.

Therefore, the results of this CiberCuba survey are not surprising within this context. However, they starkly contrast with the general opinion expressed in national U.S. polls, which favor Harris.

Amid the polarization that characterizes the 2024 U.S. elections, major media outlets began early Wednesday to present expert analyses, opinions, and polls to determine which candidate "won" the debate. Initial reactions on their online front pages concur that the Democratic candidate kept Trump "on the defensive" with her "provocative" speech, unsettling the Republican candidate.

"Harris keeps Trump on the defensive," published The Washington Post minutes after the debate ended. The New York Times also highlighted that the vice president put the former president on the defensive by bringing up his legal issues and pandemic management.

The Miami Herald echoed Harris's attacks on Trump, noting that the former president amplified "false information," such as his claims about Haitian immigrants allegedly kidnapping and eating pets in Ohio, a statement that has spawned countless memes on social media.

A few hours after the debate, former President Trump claimed victory in the face-off with the Democratic candidate. In a phone interview on Fox News' "Fox and Friends," he criticized ABC News, which aired the debate, calling it "totally rigged."