Ipsos-McClatchly: Biden won debate, but Palin more likeable

[Democratic Hawk]

Biden won debate, but Palin more likable, poll finds

By ERIKA BOLSTAD

McClatchy Newspapers

http://www.miamiherald.com/news/politics/AP/story/713320.html

WASHINGTON -- Undecided voters who watched Thursday's vice presidential debate really like Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin but they're not certain she's ready to lead the country, according to the findings of a new Ipsos/McClatchy online poll.

If they had to vote immediately after watching the debate between Republican Palin and the Democratic vice presidential candidate, Sen. Joe Biden of Delaware, 52 percent of the 456 undecided voters who were surveyed would vote the Obama/Biden ticket, the poll found.

It also found that Palin's performance in the debate did nothing to clinch undecided votes for her running mate, Arizona Sen. John McCain. Before the debate, those same undecided voters were leaning 56 percent to 44 percent for McCain. The day after the debate, the numbers tilted 52 percent to 48 percent for Illinois Sen. Barack Obama.

"It's suggesting an overall tendency of undecideds toward Obama, so it is significant," said Clifford Young, a senior vice president at Ipsos Public Affairs. "We're catching an underlying trend that's going on."

The online poll tracks a pool of undecided voters before and after the presidential and vice presidential debates. Of the 614 undecided voters surveyed, 456 watched or followed the debate. Statistical margins of error are not applicable to online polls because they are based on samples drawn from opt-in online panels, not on random samples.

Most people polled Friday also thought Biden did better in the debate - although McCain boasted of Palin's performance at a campaign rally the next day, saying he "almost felt a little sorry" for Biden. McCain also proclaimed "viva la barracuda!" a reference to the Alaska governor's nickname on her high school basketball team. Respondents found 54 percent to 46 percent that Biden posted a better performance.

Palin got poor marks from voters when asked if she looked vice presidential or whether she had a good understanding of the issues - only 39 percent of the undecided voters thought she looked vice presidential. Nearly two-thirds of those surveyed thought Biden would be a better commander-in-chief.

But Palin did well when people were asked who would do a better job bringing change to Washington. Palin, they found, 58 percent to 42 percent. And roughly two-thirds said they like her, and some 53 percent found her believable. That's a significant number in a debate watched by an estimated 69.9 million viewers - more than the previous presidential debate.

Dave

[J. J.]

She connected somewhat.

[Stranger in a strange land]

I would guess that some of these undecideds go back and forth several times each week, persuaded by whoever they heard speak last.

[Nym90]

She connected somewhat.

Yes, 36 percent of viewers in the CNN poll thought she won the debate. She clearly connected with them.

[J. J.]

She connected somewhat.

Yes, 36 percent of viewers in the CNN poll thought she won the debate. She clearly connected with them.

"Winning" has little to do with this.  2/3 "like" her, and that ultimately is more helpful.

[classical liberal]

I would just point out that this "poll" was basically a Zogby Interactive.

[Nym90]

She connected somewhat.

Yes, 36 percent of viewers in the CNN poll thought she won the debate. She clearly connected with them.

"Winning" has little to do with this.  2/3 "like" her, and that ultimately is more helpful.

True, because a performance in the vice-presidential debate that with heavy spin can be characterized as a tie will be immensely helpful to the ticket.

Which can clearly be seen by McCain's bounce in the tracking polls, which now have been fully taken post debate.

[Lief 🗽]

Well, Obama's received a pretty clear 1-2 point Biden bump from the VP debate. I guess the American people saw through Alaska Spice's facade, while at the same time recognizing what great a man Joe Biden is.

[Democratic Hawk]

She connected somewhat.

Yes, 36 percent of viewers in the CNN poll thought she won the debate. She clearly connected with them.

"Winning" has little to do with this.  2/3 "like" her, and that ultimately is more helpful.

Any more empty-headed damsel in distress acts like with softballing Katie Couric ... and people may well start to dislike her

The McCain campaign were well prepared to spin the blame on a "biased" Gwen Ifill in the event of her wilting like a flower. Fortunately, for McCain she didn't

Credit where credit is due mind you, she had the decency to look the camera and her opponent in the eye, which is more than can be said for the top of the ticket in Mississippi

Dave