CBS Poll: Obama Boosted Most By Debate

Uncommitted Voters Give Edge To Obama On Economy, McCain On Iraq

(CBS)  The first presidential debate helped uncommitted voters learn about the candidates - and it appears that Democrat Barack Obama benefited the most, according to a CBS News/Knowledge Networks poll taken immediately following the debate.

Uncommitted voters said Obama won the debate against Republican John McCain, and more of those voters improved their opinion of the Democrat. But while 66 percent think Obama would make the right decisions about the economy, 56 percent think McCain would do so about Iraq.

Immediately after the debate, CBS News interviewed a nationally representative sample of nearly 500 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. Thirty-nine percent of these uncommitted debate watchers said Obama won the debate. Twenty-four percent said McCain won, and another 37 percent thought it was a tie.

Nearly half of those uncommitted voters who watched the debate said that their image of Obama changed for the better as a result. Just eight percent say their opinion of Obama got worse, and 46 percent reported no change in their opinions.

McCain saw less improvement in his image. Thirty-two percent have improved their image of McCain as a result of the debate, but 21 percent said their views of him are now worse than before.

Why did voters' image of Obama improve? Many volunteered that they were impressed by his poise and knowledge about the issues, that he was more knowledgeable about the issues than they thought previously. When it came to McCain, those same voters said he "didn’t control himself well under pressure," that he was "angry and bad-tempered," and that he "talked too much about the past."

On the other hand, voters who thought McCain won the debate felt he showed more experience and understanding of the issues - particularly foreign policy. Many felt he exceeded their expectations in how he presented himself tonight, saying he was a "better debater" and a "skilled speaker."

Although much of this debate addressed foreign policy issues, the candidates talked about the economy for about 30 minutes - which is after all what voters say is their most important concern. Uncommitted debate watchers saw Obama as the clear winner on handling the economy; 66 percent felt he would make the right decisions about the economy, while 42 percent felt McCain would do so.

But when it came to the war in Iraq, McCain was the stronger candidate. Before the debate, 44 percent said that McCain would make the right decisions about the war; that rose to 56 percent after the debate. Fewer thought Obama would make the right decisions on Iraq.

Both candidates made some gains in presenting their respective visions for the country. Sixty-five percent said that Obama made it clear what he would do as president; 64 percent said that of his rival, McCain.

In national polls of registered voters overall, one of McCain's strengths has been the perception that he is ready for the presidency, while Obama's has been the perception that he is empathetic to voters' needs. Uncommitted voters who watched the debate share those perceptions.

But while eight in 10 uncommitted voters who watched the debate think McCain is prepared to be president, six in 10 now think Obama is prepared as well - a significant improvement from his standing among these same voters before the debate. The percentage of watchers who think Obama understands their needs and problems has also increased by 21 points, while a majority still say McCain does not.

Uncommitted voters include those who say they have a preference, but also say they could still change their minds. Before the debate, 36 percent favored Obama and 34 percent favored McCain. Obama now leads by 12 points among uncommitted debate watchers - 41 percent to 29 percent -- in their choice for president in November. But nearly three in 10 remain undecided, and most of those with a choice now say their minds could still change.

Read the complete poll (PDF)

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This CBS News poll was conducted online by Knowledge Networks among a nationwide random sample of 483 uncommitted voters - voters who don’t yet know who they will vote for, or who have chosen a candidate but may still change their minds - who have agreed to watch the debate. Knowledge Networks, a Silicon Valley company, conducted the poll among a sample of adult members of its household panel, a nationally representative sample given access to the Internet via Web TV. The questions were administered using the Internet.

This is a scientifically representative poll of undecided voters’ reaction to the presidential debate. The margin of sampling error could be plus or minus 4 percentage points for results based on the entire sample.

[milesbrown49]

The issue at hand is obvious. At a time so delicate for America, will racism take her down??? We can do the white thing and fall or rise above it all with Obama 08!!

[irishmurph2]

Obama worked his way up, got educated and gave back. We should be so lucky to have a leader who can bring respect back to our great nation...the nation just trashed by the republicans.

[megacentrist]

The debate showed Obama is the one most committed to removing Bin Laden in Pakistan. McCain has a prerequite that he would ask the Pakistan government''s permission to remove Bin Laden. The problem is that parts of the Pakistan government including parts of its'' intelligence agency are alligned with the Taliban. Yet McCain characterizes Pakistan as a friend of the U.S.

[katycay]

President Barak Hussain Obama. No way. I honestly cannot believe that there are any clear thinking, intelligent Americans who would vote for him. Just remember...not all change is good change.

[chipashry]

pakito4, I disagree with your statement that people are on welfare because of the economy. My grandfather put it clearly when I was 16 years old. He said "I don''t ever want to see you on welfare. There is always a job available. It may not be what you want to do, but you will do it to support your family. I personally consider it an embarassment to our family if you were to go on welfare." Rather than paying lazy people with working people''s money, we need to actually have the gumption to tell the lazy people that if they don''t work, they don''t get paid. Fortunately I am not one of those people that believe in socialism or communism which are closely related. It is the American capitalism system that has made this country great. As the Japanese put it at the beginning of World War II, "I fear we have awakened a sleeping giant." There are politicians that desire to move us more to socialism and being a third world country as opposed to maintaining the greatness of the United State of America.

[chipashry]

I can to explain Governor Palin''s comments to you, but I don''t have the time to explain the entire economic process which if it is understood makes the comments make sense as opposed to gibberish. I would suggest taking economic courses or studying the issue at your local library.

[chipashry]

by getting a "real person" in the White House I mean someone that does not lie or have criminal activity in their background,(like Obama), someone that does not make more than the average U.S. income levels (unlike McCain, Obama and Biden), and someone that just talks with common sense, (unlike Obama and Biden). Unfortunately many of the American citizens have bought into the "chicken in every pot" empty promises given by todays candidates.

[pakito4]

those of u going for mcinsane/plain are either very rich and have nothing to worry about of are totaly lost as to what is going on around you. bailouts, foreclosures, derugulation, two wars (which have no end in sight). as for me im tired of having to take care of my issues as well as taking care of the issues of the rich. the repubs are destroying our nation and pushing the middle class back into poverty. (cutting additional funding to supply more for iraq.) people are on welfare because of the economy. families are being thrown out on the streets. the war is not the isssue!!! your fellow americans are !!!! The iraqi people are not going to feed our families neither are the russians, cubans, afganis, indians, koreans. iraq is not the issue. the economy is. remember mccain said it was a figmant of ur imagination.

[abbe91]

"Can''''t we get some "real" people in the White House?
Posted by chipashry at 11:00 AM : Sep 29, 2008"

for a change. Not a beer heiress whose husband wants to veto very single beer.

[chipashry]

One can only hope the American public has enough sense to see through Senator Obama''s smoke and mirrors and Senator Biden''s record. A friend of mine lives in Delaware. We had a conversation after Senator Biden was selected as the V.P. candidate. Biden is known as "Blowhard Biden" in Delaware because he talks a lot, but takes no substantual action. Can''t we get some "real" people in the White House?

[abbe91]

Sorry, wrong lib, McCain came off as strong and presidential, and much more knowledgable about foreign affairs....Obama came off as "I have a bracelet too"

Posted by Minuteman-7 at 10:04 AM : Sep 29, 2008

Everybody in the world agrees on McCain''s superior knowledge about foreign affairs, especially on the "Pakistan-Iraq border". LOL

[abbe91]

Obama and the men of the Democratic Party are SEXIST and Hate Women! Never forget what they did to Hillary! Read Below:

Posted by CBSCensorsU at 10:31 AM : Sep 29, 2008

HR 2831, bozo !
Democrats don''t call their wives c*nts in public.

[dbaker13-2009]

i can only pray sarah does well against biden and just lets her beliefs and experience as a governor come through.

MCCAIN/PALIN

FOUR MORE YEARS!F NOBAMA!

[whosaid1]

The problem at the debate the other night is that Mccain thought it was a debate and Obama thought they were playing "The Dozens"....

[dbaker13-2009]

AS FOR THE DEBATE OBAMA CAME OFF AS A STATUE OR A STIFF PUPPET.THE HERO MCCAIN WAS EMOTIONAL AND I THINK HE TRULY CARES ABOUT THE COUNTRY AND THE TAXPAYERS AND THE ECONOMY.UNFORTUNALELY I THINK NOBAMA WILL GET THE STUPID VOTE!(PEOPLE JUST VOTING AND THEY HAVE NO IDEA WHY.)IT MAKES ME SICK.I KNOW BLACKS WILL VOTE FOR HIM JUST BECAUSE HES BLACK.I AM NOT RACIST BUT THATS WHATS GOING TO HAPPEN.THE STUPID VOTE FOR NOBAMA!

[chipashry]

My analysis of the debate was much different than the Main Street Media. I am not sure what debate they watched. Senator Obama (in this version of his stance) put out a very dangerous strategy for diplomatic diplomacy. His stance was very much the reckless one of the two candidates. Senator McCain, I believe, was agast that despite the total lack of knowledge and experience Senator Obama is viewed as a contender for the position of President of the United States. If American Citizens don''t wake up and view Senator Obama for the smoke and mirrors he is we are in for four years of disaster that the country will have to deal with over the next couple decades. That is if it does not cause the downfall of the nation as a whole.

[dbaker13-2009]

UNFORTUNATEY BOTH MEN ARE NOT RONALD REAGAN TYPES,BUT I HAVE TO VOTE FOR A HERO AND NOT A FREAKIN LAWYER!

[chitown639]

Johm McCain came off looking like the BITTER OLD TROLL that he has been known to be for the last 26 years. Voters dont wont to see that pasty wrinkled sour-face on their television for the next 4 years.

[chipashry]

Earlier a commentor posted debate polls and presidential polls showing Obama ahead of McCain. The commentary listed was "you cannot win an election on hot air." Obviously it works. Senator Obama has changed position and developed the Clinton, "I''ll put out 90% lies and at least 50% of the public will be stupid enough to believe them. If you believe the polls it is an effective strategy.

[dbaker13-2009]

obabm looked like like the scumbag lawyer he is.and now his buddies the acorns are under investigation for fraud.just like clinton in 92,they are both just scumbag lawyers in nice suits.