Actually the debate probably didn't change anyone's minds.
Here's a good article that makes a lot of sense. The debate between those who believe in evolution and those who believe in creation will never end. Minds just won't be changed,,ever.
The below article gives a great overview of the debate that has been taking place since Darwin.
Bill Nye and Ken Ham Debated CreationismBut Did They Change Anyone's Mind?
Bill Nye and Ken Ham Debated Creationism?But Did They Change Anyone's Mind?
You have a good point!
On a Christian site 92% said Nye won but that didn't change their minds. Ham, they said, won by losing!
92 percent say Bill Nye won in Christian Today poll - Salon.com
A number of responses to the debate from Christians supportive of Hams position suggest why: Nye may well have been a better debater the winner, even but it doesnt matter.
Blogger Don MacCallister
commented, I love my pastors conclusion to this: After watching the Nye/Ham debate last night I walked away with this one truth: I am not a reasonable man I am a sinner saved by Gods grace. I will build my life on that foundation.
Boom. There you have it.
Ezra Byer, another evangelical blogger,
exemplified this position in a post titled Why I believe Ken Ham won by losing the debate. He wrote, On debate skills alone, I would give the edge to Bill Nye, adding:
But here is why I believe Ken Ham won by losing. His objective was not to debate! In all reality this debate probably did not change many hard core atheists to becoming instant Christians and vice versa. But I believe Ken Ham accomplished three things:
1. He raised huge awareness about Biblical Creationism on a mammoth scale. Over 500,000 computers logged in? Not bad! He planted seeds of hope that the Bible is true and seeds of doubt that evolution is our only model.
2. He connected with Christians who did not think the age of the earth was a big deal. Very important! I believe he articulated very well the inconsistencies of believing in an old earth model while still trusting Jesus as Savior.
3. But most importantly, he preached the gospel over four times to hundreds of thousands of people!