Posted on 10/07/2008 11:23:42 PM PDT by Chet 99
CBS Poll: Uncommitted Voters Say Obama Won
Oct. 8, 2008(CBS) Uncommitted voters named Barack Obama as the winner of the second presidential debate as well, according to a CBS News/Knowledge Networks poll.
Immediately after the debate, CBS News interviewed a nationally representative sample of 516 debate watchers assembled by Knowledge Networks who were "uncommitted voters" - voters who are either undecided about who to vote for or who say they could still change their minds. Forty percent of these uncommitted debate watchers said Obama won the debate, 26 percent said John McCain won, and another 34 percent thought it was a tie.
In a similar poll conducted after the first debate, uncommitted voters also thought Obama was the winner.
The economy is now the most pressing national issue, and the first hour of the debate focused on economic questions. Uncommitted debate watchers see Obama the clear winner on handling the economy -- not only were his ratings on this issue higher than McCain's after the debate, but Obama also gained more from the debate on this issue.
Before the debate, 55 percent thought Obama would make the right decisions about the economy -- that rose to 68 percent after the debate. Before the debate, 41 percent of uncommitted voters thought McCain would make the right decisions about the economy -- his rating on this measure increased to 48 percent after the debate.
The town hall format of this debate provided the candidates with an opportunity to connect with voters, and Obama was viewed as doing a much better job at that than McCain did. After the debate, nearly twice as many said Obama understood their needs as said McCain did. Both before and after the debate, majorities of uncommitted voters felt that Obama understands their needs and problems. And Obama rose far more than McCain did on this measure.
But when it came to the war in Iraq, which some voters asked about during the debate, McCain was the stronger candidate -- an advantage that has been consistent in CBS News Polls for many months. Before the debate, 55 percent of uncommitted voters said that McCain would make the right decisions about the war -- that rose to 61 percent after the debate. Less than half thought Obama would make the right decisions on Iraq.
Asked what they learned from the debate, many of those who thought Obama won volunteered that Obama was knowledgeable and specific on the issues - some mentioned his understanding of foreign policy, health care, and country's energy needs. Many felt that McCain was short on specifics, and was more negative and angry.
Voters who thought McCain won the debate said he was more candid and passionate. They felt that Obama didn’t give direct answers, and that McCain was more to the point.
About one in three watchers said they learned nothing from the debate.
McCain and Obama continue to have very different strengths. Uncommitted voters who watched the debate saw McCain as more prepared to be president. Seventy-seven percent said that about McCain before the debate and that rose to 82 percent after the debate. As for Obama, 42 percent said that before the debate and 58 percent said so afterwards.
However, Obama is seen as the better candidate on bringing about change. Fifty-one percent said that before the debate, and 63 percent said so afterwards. Thirty-eight percent said McCain would bring real change after the debate, compared to 23 percent beforehand.
The town hall format of the debate allowed voters to ask questions of the candidates directly, but many uncommitted voters watching the debate weren't entirely satisfied with the candidates' responsiveness.
More than four in 10 uncommitted voters thought each candidate sidestepped some of the issues voters raised at the debate. Forty-two percent thought Obama did not answer the questions he was asked, 43 percent said that about McCain. But 57 percent thought each candidate answered the questions put to him.
Forty-two percent of those uncommitted voters who watched the debate said that their image of Obama changed for the better as a result. Just 13 percent say their opinion of Obama got worse, and 45 percent reported no change in their opinions.
McCain's image also improved - 32 percent said their image of him improved as a result of the debate, but 16 percent said their views of him are now worse than before.
Ultimately, few uncommitted voters' minds were made up as a result of this debate, according to the poll. Immediately after the debate, 15 percent of them said they are now committed to Obama, and 12 percent are now committed to McCain. But most - 72 percent - remain uncommitted.
Anyone else tired of the media pandering to these attention whores? Such drama queens.. make a pick already..
It seems like a game changing foreign crisis would be helpful right about now. Israel? GO hit Iran...
Not worth the toilet paper used to wipe up the bunghole this article came from
Uncommitted voters should be committed.
Uncommitted not because they wont vote for McCain, but because they do not trust Obama!!
we really need to push the secret life of Obama...and his connections to Kenyas Odinga!!!
Whooooo boy wait till they see this one on the news...
they will be voting, but like the rest of us it wont be for McCain....IT WILL BE AGAINST OBAMA!
This is a big... HUH?????
Obama won no votes.
So he lost.
He needed to increase his margin, and he failed.
It’s all about presentation. Obama looks more forceful than McCain and he is a smooth talker. He’s getting the percentage of the population that doesn’t care about answers or policy or experience...you know the kind. They are the ones who make their decision based on really important things, like how a person pronounces NUCLEAR.
I want to hear from rough and tumble, sleeves rolled up, down in the mud partisans. That's how we'll get a serious and interesting debate.
Can anyone find the elusive news paper, or poll from a MSM outlet that has declared the republican the winner of a debate?
Anyone?
I guess those are the folks that would have bought aluminum siding to put on a brick house from that guy.
During the primaries, the “townhall” audiences were packed with Democrat staffers and established political activists.
Anyone spot any politicos in the audience of “uncommitted voters”?
I would love to see them busted at their unsavory game.
Who are these “uncommitted” “undecided” “swing” voters anyway?
Seriously. If a person doesn’t give a rip about politics, why would he/she agree to be part of a political debate-watching poll?
Are they paid for their time, because how else are they enticed into participating in a topic that obviously isn’t of great interest to them.
I have no opinion on whether one brand of tin foil is better than another. Because of that, I would not waste half a day preparing to attend an hour and half discussion about tin foil and another hour or two sitting around weighing the pros and cons of the tin foils.
And like someone else already said, I’m sick of these people who don’t care enough to form an opinion being paid so much attention. Will they even bother to vote at all, given their lack of convictions?
Debates really aren't about arguing, they're just popularity contests. Whoever comes out looking cooler is usually the winner.
(A) I don’t have a tv now. I’ll probably get it fixed sooner than later to continue watching DVDs etc. but for now I watch them on a laptop.
(B) I listen to the debates on radio. Also makes it possible to FReep during a debate. Even home viewers who are doing something else other than staring at a tv have a virtual radio.
(C) people say that McCain “looks” angry. Only if you are watching the screen. Same with the bogus talk of Palin “winking” and “seducing” the audience. She wasn’t winking at me.
(D) Jimmy Carter was a nuclear scientist and he couldn’t pronounce the word. It is a common gaffe. Other commonly transposed or mispronounced words are jewelry (not jewlry) and caramel (not carmel).
The East German judges have now weighed in. Has a Republican EVER won one of these post-debate snap polls?
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