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.
I didn’t watch the debate, choosing to follow it here first on FR. From the comments I’d say that McCain was terrible.
I think a McCain 20 yrs ago would have cleaned this guys clock.
A winning ticket would have been Romney-Palin
Yet Republicans have won 7 of the 10 Presidential elections during this onslaught.
Tune out the noise and stay focused on the goal.
How stupid are these people to not know who they’re going to vote for less than a month from the election? There are profound differences between the candidates and they can’t make up their minds? Horse feathers!
I believe the "Odinga thinga" could be the proverbial straw that broke the camel's back. Keep it simple for the simpleminded and use the old "a picture is worth a thousand words".
[Okay. I'll stop spamming threads with this montage I created from the video. However, it is the most telling snapshot of the "real" Obama, IMO.]
If these pathetic bastards haven’t decided who they are going to vote for yet I wonder how they can ever get themselves out of the house each morning.
Regular or decaf?
Brown socks or blue?
Cereal or toast?
Bring lunch or buy?
Make a decision once in your life for Pete’s sake!
This is just some more of the msm lies RU88.Ignore them.
If Obama had dropped dead or not opened his mouth, according to them he would still have won. If he had not ever appeared, according to the msm, he would still have won.
Now the alphabet “news” organizations and the Democrat Party are one and the same.
Odinga? How strange if the presidency for a second time comes down to Jerome Corsi and his ability to break through a media blackout!
At this point in the campaign you need to be Committed to call yourself uncommitted.
Pray for W, McCuda and Our Troops
Yep, McCain really needed to set up a narrative of trying to get the word out that Obama is a dangerous leftist who is especially dangerous in these treacherous economic times.
He didn’t have to succeed in making his case last night, but he had to make it clear that was the message he would like to get across. Unfortunately McCain was all too tepid and small-bore in his attacks, which makes it come across that there’s really nothing alarming at stake if people choose to go with the articulate young man.
Amazingly enough, the Dem won the 956th Debate in a row.
Pray for W, Palin/McCain and Our Troops
I think conservatives and liberals are in agreement on this one...
There’s no reason to be uncommitted at this stage of the game, just pick a side already!!
I've got news for you. There are far fewer of them than the MSM hype up and they don't make the difference in elections. The ups and downs and swings come from turnout among each side. Remember on average half of people don't vote, but its different people each time. When a sliver more of the conservative non-voters show up we win. When non-voting lefties show up, we loose. It doesn't take much, about 2 or 3 percent.
Undecideds are irrelevant idiots.
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