CBS Poll: Uncommitted Voters Favor Obama

Forty Percent Give Edge To Obama, 26 To McCain And 34 Percent Say It Was A Tie

(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.

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 516 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 market and public policy research firm based in Menlo Park, CA, conducted the web poll among a sample of adult members of its panel, who are provided web access if they don't already have it. More technical information is available at http://www.knowledgenetworks.com/ganp/reviewer-info.html.

This is a scientifically representative poll of uncommitted 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.

[bemorefunny]

proisreal wrote: "Why isn''''t there ONE story on CBSnews about what''''s going on with ACORN? Why?"

Because Acorn is not really a story. It''s a pathetic attempt to divert true US concerns from economy, and a dreadful mistake in the Middle East. As for ''terrorism,'' I agree with Biden.. Palin should be ashamed to permits her followers from calling a life-long public servant a ''terrorist.''

It''s a dismal pack of lies that "Country First" McCain is all to happy to endorse.

[lucasnico]

Such idiots. Because CBS says it, it is the truth. Nothing more than a liberal opinion. I would be scared senseless if Obama were to win. Don''''t believe the polls or the liberal media. Here in the mountains of central Pennsylvania we can see the truth and it is not Obama who is leading.

Posted by charmin1350 at 04:07 PM : Oct 09, 2008

the mountains of Pennsylvania.....the keystone state!!, and, at this moment, a blue state..... keep up the good work, you backwards ***

[charmin1350]

Such idiots. Because CBS says it, it is the truth. Nothing more than a liberal opinion. I would be scared senseless if Obama were to win. Don''t believe the polls or the liberal media. Here in the mountains of central Pennsylvania we can see the truth and it is not Obama who is leading.

[magnetrack]

The only people who would vote for Obama are those who have had a frontal obotamy, and the same can be said of the pollsters...

[nicolas127]

Here is all you want to know about Acorn http://justsaynodeal.com/acorn.html

[rmonroe401]

proisrael,

Its not on CBS because it is just a bunch of bs made up by right wingnuts. Maybe you can write an opinion column on FOXNEWS about it.

[nicolas127]

Check out this web http://justsaynodeal.com/acorn.html

[harbinger09]

Sarah Palin and John McCain have a terrorist pal. His name is Gordon Liddy. Liddy is a convicted felon who admitting to planning to bomb federal buildings and kill if necessary. McCain and Palin love Liddy so much, Palin tried to hire him as a spokesperson for Alaska and McCain has appeared several times on Liddy''''s talk shows--but that is all okay. It''''s only the other guy''''s terrorist connections that matter, right? LOL

http://digg.com/2008_us_elections
/Palin_tried_to_hire_Terrorist_Gordon_Li
ddy_as_spokesperson

[maraneer]

To: proisreal

The answer is rather simple. Journalism is extinct. All we have today is opinionated reporters who will tell you exactly what THEY want you to hear and THEY will even let you know what you should think as well as whom you should vote for. Reporters know best because they are so close to the issues. So, it''s just a matter of making some personal adjustments. Just follow, just follow.

[maraneer]

To Whatithink1

Maybe you should know a bit more about me so that you can continue to show us your high intellect.

I am an immigrant (Legal) from The Netherlands. I learned to speak the English language within a year primarily because the ATM machine would only provide Spanish as a foreign language, not Dutch. By the way, The Netherlands would be the first country that recognized America as a sovereign nation.

In addition I am a father of two girls who have two wonderful husbands. One served this country in the Navy and her husband is currently serving. I have two wonderful grandchildren. My parents, those pioneers, are still with us and are survivors of the WW II, having experienced things you could not even imagine.

While I shutter to think of Obama as president, I have similar concerns about McCain. The vast majority of Washington politicians are totally out of touch with the genaral population as well as reality. As one person I do the best I can on a community level by organizing fund raising events. I do that because on a national level I cannot attain the same level of satisfaction for the effort.

Last but not least, your response to my opinion is exactly why we are, where we are. Until we begin to communicate with some level of intellect, we will be reduced to "comments" such as yours and that will only accelerate the demise of this great nation.