ATLANTA — President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump faced off in CNN's presidential debate in Atlanta on Thursday night. Now, voters are reacting to what they had to say.
During the debate, Biden and Trump went back and forth on a range of topics, from immigration to abortion to Medicare, among others.
On Friday, many Atlantans who watched the event said they weren't impressed with either candidate.
“It was hard to watch. Neither of them sounded very good,” Atlanta resident Tara Radford said, who was among the millions who tuned into the debate, hoping her candidate would perform well but, after the event, had a change of heart.
“I came in as a Biden supporter. I’m a Democrat and happy to be, but I’m unsure today,” Radford added.
She isn't alone. Other Atlanta residents said the debate did more to dissuade them than solidifying a vote.
“In my head, my mind is already made up for who I’m going to vote for, but last night didn’t make me feel better about what the next four years look like,” Eli Grubery added.
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Presidential Debate in Atlanta
Debate watch parties, like one at the iconic Manuel’s Tavern in Midtown, also popped up during the event, allowing residents to express their reactions in real-time.
“I don’t know if any undecided voters are being persuaded by what they’re doing up there,” Atlanta resident Katie said.
Some attendees specifically pointed out that neither President Joe Biden nor former President Donald Trump provided satisfactory answers to questions about critical issues like reproductive rights, healthcare equity and the housing crisis.
“The housing crisis is very real. I would like to buy a house someday and I think it just keeps getting harder and harder. I haven't heard one of them say a plan that would actually make it easier. So that's a little disappointing,” she added.
Healthcare equity was also at the top of the minds of voters watching the debate.
“The mortality rate of Black women, about how Black women don't get a lot of health care and how we sometimes need to have advocacy. I don't think either of them answered the question well, but I was more pleased by Joe Biden's answer,” said Kisha Ward, another Atlanta debate watch party attendee.
Still, others chose to avoid the debate altogether.
“I think both the presidencies are pretty well defined. I don’t think that anything I would hear or would’ve heard from the debate that is any new information that I didn’t know about the four years of Biden or four years of Trump's presidency. We have a really, really good idea of who they are and what they will do in office,” Atlanta resident Jason Tucker said.
Voters still have 130 days to decide which candidate they will support, as the election is on November 5.