WASHINGTON—Fewer Americans say the presidential debates are important for how they vote than at any time over the past 20 years, leaving President Trump and Joe Biden with a small pool of viewers who could be swayed in their first televised face-off Tuesday. After the coronavirus pandemic prevented many normal campaign activities and forced both parties’ conventions to be held virtually, the debates will likely be the biggest televised political events leading up to the Nov. 3 election. Still, more than 70% of Americans say the debates won’t matter much to them, a recent Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll found, including 44% who say they will not matter at all to their choice, a record high dating to 2000. “Poll to poll, there hasn’t been much change,“ said Jeff Horwitt, a Democratic pollster who conducts the WSJ/NBC News poll with Republican Bill McInturff. Joel Lotz, a 33-year-old graphic artist in Jacksonville, Fla., said he is pretty sure he’ll vote for Mr. Biden, the Democratic nominee, this year—but added he would first like to see the former vice president hold his own against the president.

Source: Wall Street Journal September 27, 2020 15:00 UTC