For swing-state voters, the debate was like watching a Super Bowl without a clear outcome

By Seema Mehta

Sept. 27, 2016 9:25 AM PT

Reporting from Des Moines — Iowans in the capital of this battleground state watched the first presidential debate with the intensity of fans at a Super Bowl game.

The state’s residents and its six electoral votes are crucial in the 2016 race for the White House, where polls show a tight race in a state that went for President Obama in the last two elections. Both Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton planned to campaign in the state this week.

A watch party at an underground bar at the Des Moines Social Club was billed as nonpartisan, though the crowd was heavy with Clinton supporters.

“It definitely didn’t disappoint in terms of entertainment value,” said Brandon Bock, who celebrated his 24th birthday by watching the debate. “There was a lot of back and forth, there was a lot of excitement.”

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For all the heat and light over the nominees’ first face-to-face clash, voters here say they are skeptical that it changed the trajectory of the race, but enjoyed the face-off.

Lindsay Moeller, 28, said she supported Bernie Sanders in the caucuses but was now supporting Clinton. She said the former secretary of State clearly had done the better job in preparing for the debate.

“It might sound cynical but I don’t necessarily think debates are going to change a whole lot of people’s minds,” said Moeller, who works in public relations. “But the race is really close right now so I hope it changes some.”

Dave Musgrave, 55, agreed, saying he liked the idea of undecided voters watching the debate to make their decisions, but he questioned how many people were truly undecided.

“What’s more likely to be true unfortunately when you have a very polarized electorate who’s already in one camp or the other, there’s not going to be a lot of crossing over,” said Musgrave, a project manager.

Others were skeptical that either candidate did anything to move the needle.

“I don’t think there was any conclusive ‘yeah that absolutely sells me on this candidate,’” said Sam Prell, 28, of Ames.

He said he was bothered by the spectacle surrounding the debate, and wished there were no audience and that moderator Lester Holt had been more aggressive. But he, too, questioned whether either would have made a difference.

“At this point, I think this election cycle has been one that’s been decided far more in advance than a lot of previous election cycles, partly due to an increased rise of social media and campaigns that started more than a year ago,” he said. “I don’t think anyone that went into this leaning for Trump was like, ‘Oh, I think Clinton gave some good answers,’ and I don’t think anyone leaning toward Clinton went, ‘Oh you know Trump made some good points, I agree with him.’”

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