The Republican and Democratic candidates debated live for the first time on  September 10, 2024. (Photo: REUTERS)

Both candidates declared themselves the victor. The more-than-100-minute long debate, watched by millions on TV, discussed the economy, tariffs on US imports, tax credit for small start-ups, and abortions. Discussing foreign policy, Harris and Trump exchanged barbs over immigration, as well as the Israel-Gaza and Russia-Ukraine conflicts.

Harris said she would continue to work on a two-state solution, in which “there must be security for the Israeli people and Israel and in equal measure for the Palestinians.” The Democratic candidate said she “will always give Israel the ability to defend itself,” but Palestinians must also “have security, self-determination and the dignity they so rightly deserve.”  

Meanwhile, Trump said he wants to end the Russia-Ukraine conflict and “save lives”.

Commenting on the candidates’ performance, ABC News’ regular contributor and analyst Chris Christie said: "She was exquisitely well-prepared. She laid traps and he chased every rabbits down every holes, and so talking about the things that he shouldn't even talk about. Donald Trump spent more times talking about people eating pets than he did about the economy. And that is a huge fail tonight."

American political strategist and analyst Donna Lease Brazile, who studied many debates in her career, said: "I think it was one of the best debate performance I've ever seen in my life. And I've seen a lot. She seized the opportunity to tell the American people what she would do during her four years. And I think this race is about to get even more interesting."

According to CNN, debate watchers said, 63% to 37%, that Harris turned in a better performance onstage in Philadelphia. Prior to the debate, the same voters were evenly split on which candidate would perform more strongly, with 50% saying Harris would do so and 50% that Trump would.

The results of the flash poll mark a shift from the reaction to the June presidential debate, when voters who watched the matchup between Trump and Biden said, 67% to 33%, that Trump outperformed his Democratic rival, the news network said.