| Results of SurveyUSA News Poll #14544 |
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In Striking Contrast to 1st McCain-Obama Debate, State of Washington Sees Obama as 'Clear Winner' of Round #2:
Immediately following tonight's town-hall debate, SurveyUSA interviewed 1,000 state of Washington adults, of whom 741 watched the debate. Of debate watchers:
54% say Obama was the clear winner. Debate audience was split on whether candidates spent too much time, or just the right amount of time, attacking each other. Audience was 21% Republican, 40% Democrat, 38% Independent. This is significant because it means some Republicans may have lost interest in the race. Republican audience was larger for the 1st presidential and the vice presidential debate. Republicans by 7:1 saw McCain as the clear winner. Democrats by 11:1 saw Obama as the clear winner. Independents, the most critical and coveted group, broke 5:3 for Obama. 42% say McCain was too forceful. 20% say he was not forceful enough. 35% say McCain was just right. 18% say Obama was too forceful. 20% say Obama was not forceful enough. 58% say Obama was just right. Washington state debate watchers say Obama laid out a better vision for America's future, McCain appeared more angry. Moderator Tom Brokaw was seen as impartial. SurveyUSA state of Washington research conducted exclusively for KING-TV Seattle. |
| 1 | Was John McCain the clear winner? Was Barack Obama the clear winner? Or, was there no clear winner? |
| 741 Debate Watchers | All | Gender | Age | <50 / 50+ | Race | Party Affiliation | Ideology | Region | ||||||||||||||
| Margin of Sampling Error: ± 3.7% | Male | Female | 18-34 | 35-49 | 50-64 | 65+ | 18-49 | 50+ | White | Black | Hispanic | Asian/Ot | Republic | Democrat | Independ | Conserva | Moderate | Liberal | Western | Eastern | Metro Se | |
| John McCain | 29% | 35% | 22% | 25% | 33% | 25% | 32% | 29% | 28% | 29% | ** | 39% | 14% | 68% | 7% | 29% | 63% | 23% | 7% | 32% | 38% | 24% |
| Barack Obama | 54% | 49% | 59% | 62% | 52% | 52% | 44% | 57% | 49% | 52% | ** | 47% | 74% | 9% | 81% | 49% | 14% | 61% | 79% | 52% | 48% | 56% |
| No Clear Winner | 18% | 17% | 19% | 13% | 15% | 22% | 24% | 14% | 23% | 19% | ** | 14% | 12% | 22% | 12% | 22% | 23% | 16% | 14% | 16% | 15% | 20% |
| Total | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% |
| Composition of Debate Watchers | 100% | 52% | 48% | 29% | 31% | 24% | 17% | 59% | 41% | 81% | 3% | 6% | 10% | 21% | 40% | 38% | 22% | 44% | 20% | 26% | 20% | 54% |
| 2 | Did the candidates spend too much time attacking each other? Too little time? Or the right amount of time? |
| 741 Debate Watchers | All | Gender | Age | <50 / 50+ | Race | Party Affiliation | Ideology | Region | ||||||||||||||
| Margin of Sampling Error: ± 3.7% | Male | Female | 18-34 | 35-49 | 50-64 | 65+ | 18-49 | 50+ | White | Black | Hispanic | Asian/Ot | Republic | Democrat | Independ | Conserva | Moderate | Liberal | Western | Eastern | Metro Se | |
| Too Much | 41% | 40% | 42% | 47% | 37% | 42% | 38% | 42% | 40% | 39% | ** | 39% | 56% | 32% | 45% | 41% | 34% | 39% | 49% | 38% | 39% | 43% |
| Too Little | 14% | 15% | 12% | 16% | 14% | 11% | 15% | 15% | 13% | 13% | ** | 26% | 15% | 19% | 11% | 15% | 23% | 11% | 12% | 18% | 14% | 12% |
| Just The Right Amount | 41% | 41% | 41% | 35% | 45% | 42% | 45% | 40% | 43% | 44% | ** | 34% | 26% | 47% | 41% | 39% | 41% | 47% | 35% | 41% | 42% | 41% |
| Not Sure | 4% | 3% | 4% | 2% | 4% | 5% | 3% | 3% | 4% | 4% | ** | 0% | 4% | 2% | 4% | 5% | 3% | 3% | 4% | 3% | 5% | 3% |
| Total | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% |
| Composition of Debate Watchers | 100% | 52% | 48% | 29% | 31% | 24% | 17% | 59% | 41% | 81% | 3% | 6% | 10% | 21% | 40% | 38% | 22% | 44% | 20% | 26% | 20% | 54% |
| 3 | Was Barack Obama too forceful? Not forceful enough? Or just right? |
| 741 Debate Watchers | All | Gender | Age | <50 / 50+ | Race | Party Affiliation | Ideology | Region | ||||||||||||||
| Margin of Sampling Error: ± 3.6% | Male | Female | 18-34 | 35-49 | 50-64 | 65+ | 18-49 | 50+ | White | Black | Hispanic | Asian/Ot | Republic | Democrat | Independ | Conserva | Moderate | Liberal | Western | Eastern | Metro Se | |
| Too Forceful | 18% | 21% | 15% | 20% | 18% | 15% | 20% | 19% | 17% | 17% | ** | 45% | 13% | 38% | 10% | 17% | 36% | 15% | 4% | 17% | 22% | 17% |
| Not Forceful Enough | 20% | 22% | 18% | 23% | 17% | 19% | 22% | 20% | 20% | 19% | ** | 35% | 17% | 22% | 16% | 23% | 22% | 15% | 26% | 18% | 24% | 20% |
| Just Right | 58% | 54% | 62% | 56% | 60% | 62% | 51% | 58% | 58% | 61% | ** | 17% | 66% | 32% | 74% | 55% | 34% | 67% | 70% | 61% | 49% | 60% |
| Not Sure | 4% | 4% | 4% | 1% | 6% | 3% | 7% | 3% | 5% | 4% | ** | 2% | 3% | 8% | 1% | 5% | 8% | 3% | 1% | 4% | 6% | 3% |
| Total | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% |
| Composition of Debate Watchers | 100% | 52% | 48% | 29% | 31% | 24% | 17% | 59% | 41% | 81% | 3% | 6% | 10% | 21% | 40% | 38% | 22% | 44% | 20% | 26% | 20% | 54% |
| 4 | Was John McCain too forceful? Not forceful enough? Or just right? |
| 741 Debate Watchers | All | Gender | Age | <50 / 50+ | Race | Party Affiliation | Ideology | Region | ||||||||||||||
| Margin of Sampling Error: ± 3.7% | Male | Female | 18-34 | 35-49 | 50-64 | 65+ | 18-49 | 50+ | White | Black | Hispanic | Asian/Ot | Republic | Democrat | Independ | Conserva | Moderate | Liberal | Western | Eastern | Metro Se | |
| Too Forceful | 42% | 39% | 45% | 53% | 36% | 43% | 32% | 44% | 39% | 42% | ** | 40% | 46% | 12% | 62% | 38% | 16% | 47% | 63% | 41% | 39% | 43% |
| Not Forceful Enough | 20% | 20% | 20% | 13% | 21% | 20% | 30% | 17% | 24% | 20% | ** | 19% | 19% | 28% | 13% | 22% | 31% | 16% | 12% | 22% | 20% | 19% |
| Just Right | 35% | 37% | 32% | 32% | 39% | 33% | 33% | 36% | 33% | 35% | ** | 41% | 28% | 58% | 20% | 37% | 51% | 32% | 21% | 34% | 38% | 34% |
| Not Sure | 3% | 3% | 3% | 2% | 3% | 4% | 5% | 3% | 4% | 3% | ** | 0% | 7% | 2% | 4% | 3% | 1% | 4% | 4% | 2% | 3% | 4% |
| Total | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% |
| Composition of Debate Watchers | 100% | 52% | 48% | 29% | 31% | 24% | 17% | 59% | 41% | 81% | 3% | 6% | 10% | 21% | 40% | 38% | 22% | 44% | 20% | 26% | 20% | 54% |
| 5 | Which candidate was more angry? |
| 741 Debate Watchers | All | Gender | Age | <50 / 50+ | Race | Party Affiliation | Ideology | Region | ||||||||||||||
| Margin of Sampling Error: ± 3.7% | Male | Female | 18-34 | 35-49 | 50-64 | 65+ | 18-49 | 50+ | White | Black | Hispanic | Asian/Ot | Republic | Democrat | Independ | Conserva | Moderate | Liberal | Western | Eastern | Metro Se | |
| McCain | 49% | 49% | 49% | 53% | 41% | 52% | 52% | 47% | 52% | 49% | ** | 48% | 52% | 25% | 69% | 42% | 27% | 55% | 65% | 48% | 47% | 50% |
| Obama | 21% | 24% | 19% | 21% | 26% | 20% | 17% | 23% | 18% | 20% | ** | 28% | 23% | 42% | 9% | 23% | 39% | 16% | 12% | 21% | 25% | 20% |
| Not Sure | 29% | 27% | 33% | 26% | 33% | 28% | 31% | 30% | 29% | 31% | ** | 24% | 25% | 33% | 22% | 35% | 34% | 29% | 23% | 31% | 28% | 30% |
| Total | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% |
| Composition of Debate Watchers | 100% | 52% | 48% | 29% | 31% | 24% | 17% | 59% | 41% | 81% | 3% | 6% | 10% | 21% | 40% | 38% | 22% | 44% | 20% | 26% | 20% | 54% |
| 6 | Which candidate laid out a better vision for America's future? |
| 741 Debate Watchers | All | Gender | Age | <50 / 50+ | Race | Party Affiliation | Ideology | Region | ||||||||||||||
| Margin of Sampling Error: ± 3.6% | Male | Female | 18-34 | 35-49 | 50-64 | 65+ | 18-49 | 50+ | White | Black | Hispanic | Asian/Ot | Republic | Democrat | Independ | Conserva | Moderate | Liberal | Western | Eastern | Metro Se | |
| McCain | 35% | 40% | 29% | 29% | 37% | 34% | 42% | 33% | 37% | 35% | ** | 43% | 19% | 81% | 9% | 35% | 75% | 28% | 10% | 35% | 44% | 31% |
| Obama | 60% | 55% | 65% | 68% | 57% | 60% | 50% | 62% | 56% | 60% | ** | 46% | 73% | 13% | 90% | 55% | 19% | 67% | 88% | 57% | 51% | 64% |
| Not Sure | 6% | 5% | 6% | 3% | 6% | 6% | 8% | 5% | 7% | 5% | ** | 10% | 7% | 6% | 2% | 10% | 6% | 5% | 2% | 8% | 5% | 5% |
| Total | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% |
| Composition of Debate Watchers | 100% | 52% | 48% | 29% | 31% | 24% | 17% | 59% | 41% | 81% | 3% | 6% | 10% | 21% | 40% | 38% | 22% | 44% | 20% | 26% | 20% | 54% |
| 7 | Was the moderator of the debate, Tom Brokaw, fair to both candidates? Unfair to McCain? Or Unfair to Obama? |
| 741 Debate Watchers | All | Gender | Age | <50 / 50+ | Race | Party Affiliation | Ideology | Region | ||||||||||||||
| Margin of Sampling Error: ± 2.2% | Male | Female | 18-34 | 35-49 | 50-64 | 65+ | 18-49 | 50+ | White | Black | Hispanic | Asian/Ot | Republic | Democrat | Independ | Conserva | Moderate | Liberal | Western | Eastern | Metro Se | |
| Fair To Both | 90% | 90% | 90% | 88% | 92% | 87% | 93% | 90% | 89% | 91% | ** | 87% | 86% | 84% | 90% | 92% | 82% | 91% | 94% | 91% | 85% | 91% |
| Unfair To McCain | 5% | 7% | 3% | 3% | 6% | 6% | 5% | 4% | 6% | 5% | ** | 7% | 2% | 11% | 1% | 5% | 13% | 3% | 2% | 6% | 9% | 3% |
| Unfair To Obama | 4% | 2% | 5% | 5% | 2% | 6% | 1% | 3% | 4% | 3% | ** | 6% | 10% | 1% | 6% | 2% | 0% | 6% | 3% | 2% | 6% | 3% |
| Not Sure | 2% | 2% | 2% | 4% | 1% | 1% | 0% | 3% | 1% | 2% | ** | 0% | 1% | 3% | 2% | 1% | 4% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 0% | 3% |
| Total | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% |
| Composition of Debate Watchers | 100% | 52% | 48% | 29% | 31% | 24% | 17% | 59% | 41% | 81% | 3% | 6% | 10% | 21% | 40% | 38% | 22% | 44% | 20% | 26% | 20% | 54% |
| 8 | Was the town-hall format successful? Or unsuccessful? |
| 741 Debate Watchers | All | Gender | Age | <50 / 50+ | Race | Party Affiliation | Ideology | Region | ||||||||||||||
| Margin of Sampling Error: ± 3.5% | Male | Female | 18-34 | 35-49 | 50-64 | 65+ | 18-49 | 50+ | White | Black | Hispanic | Asian/Ot | Republic | Democrat | Independ | Conserva | Moderate | Liberal | Western | Eastern | Metro Se | |
| Successful | 65% | 69% | 62% | 69% | 63% | 65% | 65% | 66% | 65% | 66% | ** | 63% | 62% | 64% | 66% | 66% | 61% | 67% | 65% | 71% | 65% | 63% |
| Unsuccessful | 21% | 20% | 22% | 18% | 20% | 22% | 25% | 19% | 23% | 20% | ** | 17% | 27% | 23% | 20% | 20% | 22% | 19% | 28% | 18% | 20% | 22% |
| Not Sure | 14% | 11% | 16% | 12% | 18% | 13% | 10% | 15% | 12% | 14% | ** | 21% | 12% | 13% | 14% | 14% | 17% | 14% | 7% | 11% | 16% | 15% |
| Total | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% |
| Composition of Debate Watchers | 100% | 52% | 48% | 29% | 31% | 24% | 17% | 59% | 41% | 81% | 3% | 6% | 10% | 21% | 40% | 38% | 22% | 44% | 20% | 26% | 20% | 54% |