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. Both campaigns say they will be important. 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. Most people say they have already made up their minds, and even big events like the death of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg have not led many to say they will change their votes so far.

Source: Wall Street Journal September 29, 2020 00:45 UTC