This question was phrased by the source as follows: "Regardless of which candidate you happen to support, who do you think did the best job in the debate – Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump?"
26 percent of respondents identified as Republicans, 41 percent identified as Democrats, 33 percent identified as Independents
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U.S. presidential election 2016: winner of the first Trump-Clinton debate
This statistic shows the opinion of respondents on who was the winner of the first presidential debate between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, held on September 26, 2016, for the 2016 U.S. presidential election. Of those polled, 62 percent thought Hillary Clinton won the first debate.
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CNN. (September 27, 2016). Public opinion on who won the first debate of the 2016 U.S. presidential election between Clinton and Trump [Graph]. In ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. Retrieved July 31, 2026, from /statistics/612911/winner-of-first-debate-us-presidential-election/
CNN. "Public opinion on who won the first debate of the 2016 U.S. presidential election between Clinton and Trump." Chart. September 27, 2016. ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. Accessed July 31, 2026. /statistics/612911/winner-of-first-debate-us-presidential-election/
CNN. (2016). Public opinion on who won the first debate of the 2016 U.S. presidential election between Clinton and Trump. ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ Inc.. Accessed: July 31, 2026. /statistics/612911/winner-of-first-debate-us-presidential-election/
CNN. "Public Opinion on Who Won The First Debate of The 2016 U.S. Presidential Election between Clinton and Trump." ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ, ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ Inc., 27 Sep 2016, /statistics/612911/winner-of-first-debate-us-presidential-election/
CNN, Public opinion on who won the first debate of the 2016 U.S. presidential election between Clinton and Trump ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ, /statistics/612911/winner-of-first-debate-us-presidential-election/ (last visited July 31, 2026)
Public opinion on who won the first debate of the 2016 U.S. presidential election between Clinton and Trump [Graph], CNN, September 27, 2016. [Online]. Available: /statistics/612911/winner-of-first-debate-us-presidential-election/
