Uncommitted Voters Give Obama the Edge in Second Debate
Following last night's nationally televised square-off between Barack Obama and John McCain in Nashville, CBS News released results of what it described as "a scientifically representative poll of uncommitted voters' reaction to the presidential debate."
According to CBS News, the poll was conducted online by Knowledge Networks among a nationwide random sample of 516 uncommitted voters. The poll participants said they did not yet know for whom they will vote, or had chosen a candidate but reserved the right to change their minds. All agreed to watch the debate.
CBS News reported the following findings from the poll:
Forty (40) percent of respondents said that Obama won the debate. Thirty-four (34) percent judged it as a tie. Twenty-six (26) percent gave the edge to McCain.
Among the repondents who felt Obama won the debate, many said the Illionois senator was knowledgeable and specific on the issues -- some mentioned foreign policy, health care and energy. Among respondents who felt McCain won, many said he was more candid and passionate.
Before the debate, 55 percent thought Obama would make the right decisions on economic issues; that rose to 68 percent after the debate.
Before the debate, 41 percent thought McCain would make the right decisions on economic issues; that rose to 48 percent after the debate.
Eighty (80) percent of uncommitted voters said after the debate that Obama understands voters' needs and problems, compared to 44 percent for McCain. On this measure, Obama rose 21 percentage points from voters' perceptions prior to the debate, while McCain gained 11 percentage points.
Both candidates were seen, for the most part (57 percent), as answering the questions put to him in the town-hall-style debate.
Eighty-three (83) percent of respondents said after the debate that McCain is prepared to be president, compared to 58 percent for Obama. McCain gained 11 percentage points from voters' perceptions prior to the debate, while Obama gained 16 percentage points.
Sixty-three (63) percent of respondents said after the debate that Obama would bring real change if elected president, compared to 38 percent for McCain. Obama gained 12 percentage points from voters' perceptions prior to the debate, while McCain gained 15 percentage points.
Forty-two (42) percent of respondents said their image of Obama changed for the better as a result of the debate; 13 percent said their opinion of Obama got worse. Thirty-two (32) percent of respondents said their image of McCain changed for the better as a result of the debate; 16 percent said their opinion of McCain got worse.
Most of the uncommitted voters who participated in the poll -- 72 percent -- remained uncommitted following the debate. Fifteen (15) percent said they are now committed to Obama, while 12 percent said they are now committed to McCain.
You can read the entire CBS News poll report here.