Vice President Kamala Harris has surged to a 5-point lead over former President Donald Trump in the wake of their debate, according to a new Yahoo News/YouGov poll. The poll, conducted among 1,755 U.S. adults, shows Harris leading Trump with 50% of the vote compared to 45% for Trump among registered voters in a head-to-head match-up. This marks Harris’s most significant lead over Trump to date, building on previous polls where the two were neck and neck.

Harris’s rise can be attributed to her strong debate performance, which appears to have resonated with key voting blocs. Compared to past polls, Harris has made notable gains among Democrats, Biden voters, and key demographic groups, including women, Black Americans, and young voters aged 18 to 29. Among Democrats, she is now capturing 95% of the vote (up from 90%), and among Biden’s 2020 voters, she’s up to 92% (from 80%).

Notably, Harris has also flipped a crucial bloc: independents. In the poll taken before the debate, Harris trailed Trump among independents by 9 points (35% to 44%). Following the debate, Harris has gained a 10-point lead among this group (47% to 37%).

Harris's strong performance during the debate appears to have played a critical role in the shift in voter sentiment. Among Americans who watched or followed the debate, 56% say Harris won, compared to just 26% for Trump. While Harris’s supporters overwhelmingly back her debate win (94% of Democrats), Trump’s support was lower among Republicans (57%).

Harris was viewed as more "presidential" (51% to 35%), "coherent" (50% to 29%), and "competent" (50% to **36%) than Trump. Additionally, voters saw Trump as more "insulting" (53% to 28%) and "untruthful" (49% to 35%). The debate's tone further seemed to hurt Trump’s perception, with many calling his performance "painful" or "infuriating" to watch.

On policy, Harris was rated higher than Trump on nearly all key issues discussed during the debate, including abortion, cost of living, and even Trump’s own record. Her most decisive win came on the topic of the January 6 attacks, where she led Trump 49% to 28%.

The debate has also shifted public perception of Harris and Trump. While most respondents familiar with the debate said they learned little new about Trump, nearly 70% said they learned more about Harris, with 66% of that group saying what they learned was mostly positive. Respondents highlighted her plans as president (34%), temperament (32%), and fitness for office (32%) as standout qualities from the debate.

A substantial portion of those who watched the debate — 59% — expressed interest in seeing another debate between the two candidates. However, while Harris has called for a second debate in October, Trump has rejected the idea, making it unlikely there will be a follow-up.

The impact of this debate, however, is already being felt. Harris has improved her favorability rating to 49%, a 2-point increase since the Democratic National Convention. At the same time, Trump has seen a rise in negative descriptors, with more voters calling him "chaotic" (47%, up from 43%), "dishonest" (45%, up from 43%), and "too old" for another term (50%, up from 47%).

As Harris continues to make gains in public perception, it remains to be seen whether her post-debate surge will carry her through to Election Day. This shift in momentum signals a potential turning point in the race, especially as key voter groups, such as independents and young voters, move in her favor.