| Results of SurveyUSA News Poll #14543 |
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California, By More Than 2:1, Sees Obama as 'Clear Winner' of 2nd Presidential Debate:
Just as California did after the 1st presidential debate, just as California did after the vice presidential debate, CA today judges Barack Obama the "clear winner" of the 2nd presidential debate. Immediately following tonight's town-hall, SurveyUSA interviewed 1,250 CA adults, of whom 904 watched. Of debate watchers:
56% 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 27% Republican, 45% Democrat, 26% Independent. Republicans by 5:2 saw McCain as the clear winner. Democrats by 8:1 saw Obama as the clear winner. Independents, the most critical and coveted group, broke 5:3 for Obama. 42% say McCain was too forceful. 24% say he was not forceful enough. 32% say McCain was just right. 14% say Obama was too forceful. 19% say Obama was not forceful enough. 63% say Obama was just right. California debate watchers by 2:1 say Obama laid out a better vision for America's future, McCain by 3:1 appeared more angry. Moderator Tom Brokaw was seen as impartial. SurveyUSA California research conducted for KABC-TV Los Angeles, KPIX-TV San Francisco, KGTV-TV San Diego, KFSN-TV Fresno. |
| 1 | Was John McCain the clear winner? Was Barack Obama the clear winner? Or, was there no clear winner? |
| 904 Debate Watchers | All | Gender | Age | <50 / 50+ | Race | Party Affiliation | Ideology | Region | |||||||||||||||
| Margin of Sampling Error: ± 3.3% | Male | Female | 18-34 | 35-49 | 50-64 | 65+ | 18-49 | 50+ | White | Black | Hispanic | Asian/Ot | Republic | Democrat | Independ | Conserva | Moderate | Liberal | Central | Greater | Inland E | Bay Area | |
| John McCain | 26% | 28% | 25% | 23% | 27% | 25% | 32% | 25% | 28% | 30% | 22% | 24% | 21% | 51% | 10% | 31% | 49% | 22% | 11% | 38% | 23% | 34% | 18% |
| Barack Obama | 56% | 54% | 58% | 58% | 58% | 58% | 48% | 58% | 53% | 49% | 73% | 62% | 63% | 22% | 77% | 52% | 25% | 62% | 77% | 45% | 62% | 43% | 63% |
| No Clear Winner | 18% | 18% | 17% | 19% | 15% | 18% | 20% | 17% | 19% | 22% | 5% | 14% | 16% | 26% | 13% | 17% | 25% | 16% | 12% | 17% | 15% | 23% | 19% |
| Total | 100% | 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% | 53% | 47% | 29% | 31% | 23% | 18% | 59% | 41% | 54% | 7% | 24% | 15% | 27% | 45% | 26% | 24% | 46% | 18% | 18% | 41% | 18% | 24% |
| 2 | Did the candidates spend too much time attacking each other? Too little time? Or the right amount of time? |
| 904 Debate Watchers | All | Gender | Age | <50 / 50+ | Race | Party Affiliation | Ideology | Region | |||||||||||||||
| Margin of Sampling Error: ± 3.3% | Male | Female | 18-34 | 35-49 | 50-64 | 65+ | 18-49 | 50+ | White | Black | Hispanic | Asian/Ot | Republic | Democrat | Independ | Conserva | Moderate | Liberal | Central | Greater | Inland E | Bay Area | |
| Too Much | 33% | 31% | 36% | 34% | 33% | 31% | 35% | 34% | 33% | 35% | 21% | 31% | 39% | 33% | 34% | 31% | 30% | 35% | 32% | 38% | 30% | 41% | 31% |
| Too Little | 17% | 18% | 15% | 19% | 14% | 14% | 19% | 17% | 16% | 14% | 20% | 22% | 16% | 21% | 13% | 19% | 24% | 16% | 14% | 16% | 17% | 16% | 16% |
| Just The Right Amount | 48% | 50% | 46% | 45% | 51% | 52% | 43% | 48% | 48% | 49% | 59% | 47% | 42% | 46% | 49% | 50% | 45% | 47% | 50% | 45% | 50% | 43% | 50% |
| Not Sure | 2% | 1% | 3% | 2% | 2% | 3% | 3% | 2% | 3% | 3% | 0% | 0% | 3% | 1% | 3% | 1% | 1% | 2% | 4% | 2% | 3% | 1% | 2% |
| Total | 100% | 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% | 53% | 47% | 29% | 31% | 23% | 18% | 59% | 41% | 54% | 7% | 24% | 15% | 27% | 45% | 26% | 24% | 46% | 18% | 18% | 41% | 18% | 24% |
| 3 | Was Barack Obama too forceful? Not forceful enough? Or just right? |
| 904 Debate Watchers | All | Gender | Age | <50 / 50+ | Race | Party Affiliation | Ideology | Region | |||||||||||||||
| Margin of Sampling Error: ± 3.2% | Male | Female | 18-34 | 35-49 | 50-64 | 65+ | 18-49 | 50+ | White | Black | Hispanic | Asian/Ot | Republic | Democrat | Independ | Conserva | Moderate | Liberal | Central | Greater | Inland E | Bay Area | |
| Too Forceful | 14% | 14% | 14% | 13% | 12% | 14% | 18% | 13% | 16% | 15% | 14% | 10% | 14% | 25% | 5% | 15% | 25% | 10% | 4% | 18% | 12% | 20% | 9% |
| Not Forceful Enough | 19% | 22% | 15% | 15% | 20% | 20% | 23% | 18% | 21% | 18% | 17% | 23% | 18% | 23% | 16% | 21% | 25% | 20% | 16% | 19% | 18% | 22% | 18% |
| Just Right | 63% | 59% | 66% | 66% | 65% | 63% | 53% | 65% | 59% | 61% | 63% | 64% | 65% | 43% | 76% | 61% | 43% | 66% | 79% | 54% | 66% | 53% | 70% |
| Not Sure | 4% | 4% | 5% | 6% | 4% | 4% | 5% | 5% | 4% | 5% | 6% | 3% | 3% | 9% | 3% | 3% | 7% | 3% | 2% | 9% | 4% | 5% | 2% |
| Total | 100% | 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% | 53% | 47% | 29% | 31% | 23% | 18% | 59% | 41% | 54% | 7% | 24% | 15% | 27% | 45% | 26% | 24% | 46% | 18% | 18% | 41% | 18% | 24% |
| 4 | Was John McCain too forceful? Not forceful enough? Or just right? |
| 904 Debate Watchers | All | Gender | Age | <50 / 50+ | Race | Party Affiliation | Ideology | Region | |||||||||||||||
| Margin of Sampling Error: ± 3.3% | Male | Female | 18-34 | 35-49 | 50-64 | 65+ | 18-49 | 50+ | White | Black | Hispanic | Asian/Ot | Republic | Democrat | Independ | Conserva | Moderate | Liberal | Central | Greater | Inland E | Bay Area | |
| Too Forceful | 42% | 40% | 45% | 44% | 48% | 41% | 31% | 46% | 37% | 38% | 44% | 46% | 50% | 23% | 56% | 39% | 22% | 45% | 65% | 32% | 49% | 28% | 49% |
| Not Forceful Enough | 24% | 25% | 22% | 22% | 20% | 26% | 31% | 21% | 28% | 24% | 27% | 27% | 15% | 27% | 19% | 28% | 31% | 23% | 14% | 29% | 21% | 26% | 21% |
| Just Right | 32% | 32% | 31% | 33% | 31% | 30% | 34% | 32% | 31% | 35% | 25% | 26% | 32% | 49% | 21% | 31% | 46% | 29% | 17% | 37% | 27% | 45% | 26% |
| Not Sure | 2% | 3% | 2% | 2% | 2% | 3% | 4% | 2% | 4% | 3% | 4% | 2% | 2% | 1% | 4% | 2% | 1% | 3% | 4% | 2% | 3% | 1% | 3% |
| Total | 100% | 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% | 53% | 47% | 29% | 31% | 23% | 18% | 59% | 41% | 54% | 7% | 24% | 15% | 27% | 45% | 26% | 24% | 46% | 18% | 18% | 41% | 18% | 24% |
| 5 | Which candidate was more angry? |
| 904 Debate Watchers | All | Gender | Age | <50 / 50+ | Race | Party Affiliation | Ideology | Region | |||||||||||||||
| Margin of Sampling Error: ± 3.3% | Male | Female | 18-34 | 35-49 | 50-64 | 65+ | 18-49 | 50+ | White | Black | Hispanic | Asian/Ot | Republic | Democrat | Independ | Conserva | Moderate | Liberal | Central | Greater | Inland E | Bay Area | |
| McCain | 52% | 54% | 50% | 50% | 57% | 55% | 46% | 53% | 51% | 48% | 59% | 60% | 52% | 31% | 66% | 48% | 30% | 59% | 63% | 44% | 60% | 44% | 53% |
| Obama | 18% | 18% | 18% | 21% | 17% | 16% | 16% | 19% | 16% | 21% | 24% | 12% | 14% | 31% | 11% | 19% | 31% | 14% | 13% | 23% | 14% | 23% | 18% |
| Not Sure | 29% | 28% | 31% | 29% | 26% | 29% | 37% | 27% | 32% | 31% | 16% | 28% | 34% | 37% | 23% | 34% | 39% | 28% | 24% | 33% | 26% | 34% | 29% |
| Total | 100% | 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% | 53% | 47% | 29% | 31% | 23% | 18% | 59% | 41% | 54% | 7% | 24% | 15% | 27% | 45% | 26% | 24% | 46% | 18% | 18% | 41% | 18% | 24% |
| 6 | Which candidate laid out a better vision for America's future? |
| 904 Debate Watchers | All | Gender | Age | <50 / 50+ | Race | Party Affiliation | Ideology | Region | |||||||||||||||
| Margin of Sampling Error: ± 3.2% | Male | Female | 18-34 | 35-49 | 50-64 | 65+ | 18-49 | 50+ | White | Black | Hispanic | Asian/Ot | Republic | Democrat | Independ | Conserva | Moderate | Liberal | Central | Greater | Inland E | Bay Area | |
| McCain | 31% | 35% | 28% | 29% | 31% | 30% | 39% | 30% | 34% | 34% | 23% | 28% | 31% | 60% | 11% | 36% | 61% | 26% | 8% | 46% | 26% | 46% | 19% |
| Obama | 62% | 60% | 65% | 64% | 65% | 64% | 54% | 64% | 59% | 56% | 76% | 71% | 66% | 29% | 85% | 58% | 30% | 69% | 87% | 48% | 70% | 48% | 72% |
| Not Sure | 6% | 5% | 7% | 8% | 4% | 6% | 8% | 6% | 7% | 10% | 1% | 1% | 3% | 10% | 4% | 6% | 10% | 5% | 5% | 6% | 5% | 6% | 9% |
| Total | 100% | 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% | 53% | 47% | 29% | 31% | 23% | 18% | 59% | 41% | 54% | 7% | 24% | 15% | 27% | 45% | 26% | 24% | 46% | 18% | 18% | 41% | 18% | 24% |
| 7 | Was the moderator of the debate, Tom Brokaw, fair to both candidates? Unfair to McCain? Or Unfair to Obama? |
| 904 Debate Watchers | All | Gender | Age | <50 / 50+ | Race | Party Affiliation | Ideology | Region | |||||||||||||||
| Margin of Sampling Error: ± 2.3% | Male | Female | 18-34 | 35-49 | 50-64 | 65+ | 18-49 | 50+ | White | Black | Hispanic | Asian/Ot | Republic | Democrat | Independ | Conserva | Moderate | Liberal | Central | Greater | Inland E | Bay Area | |
| Fair To Both | 86% | 85% | 87% | 81% | 87% | 88% | 89% | 84% | 88% | 90% | 86% | 80% | 80% | 87% | 88% | 83% | 84% | 88% | 90% | 86% | 85% | 79% | 92% |
| Unfair To McCain | 6% | 7% | 4% | 6% | 5% | 6% | 8% | 5% | 7% | 5% | 4% | 8% | 7% | 7% | 2% | 7% | 9% | 4% | 2% | 7% | 5% | 10% | 3% |
| Unfair To Obama | 7% | 6% | 8% | 10% | 8% | 6% | 2% | 9% | 4% | 4% | 7% | 10% | 11% | 4% | 9% | 5% | 4% | 7% | 7% | 2% | 9% | 9% | 5% |
| Not Sure | 2% | 3% | 1% | 4% | 1% | 0% | 1% | 2% | 1% | 2% | 2% | 2% | 2% | 1% | 1% | 4% | 3% | 1% | 0% | 5% | 1% | 3% | 0% |
| Total | 100% | 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% | 53% | 47% | 29% | 31% | 23% | 18% | 59% | 41% | 54% | 7% | 24% | 15% | 27% | 45% | 26% | 24% | 46% | 18% | 18% | 41% | 18% | 24% |
| 8 | Was the town-hall format successful? Or unsuccessful? |
| 904 Debate Watchers | All | Gender | Age | <50 / 50+ | Race | Party Affiliation | Ideology | Region | |||||||||||||||
| Margin of Sampling Error: ± 3.2% | Male | Female | 18-34 | 35-49 | 50-64 | 65+ | 18-49 | 50+ | White | Black | Hispanic | Asian/Ot | Republic | Democrat | Independ | Conserva | Moderate | Liberal | Central | Greater | Inland E | Bay Area | |
| Successful | 62% | 61% | 64% | 59% | 64% | 66% | 60% | 62% | 63% | 64% | 65% | 59% | 59% | 71% | 60% | 61% | 64% | 67% | 56% | 72% | 60% | 62% | 60% |
| Unsuccessful | 22% | 23% | 21% | 22% | 23% | 21% | 21% | 23% | 21% | 22% | 17% | 23% | 25% | 20% | 21% | 24% | 22% | 20% | 26% | 21% | 22% | 23% | 23% |
| Not Sure | 16% | 17% | 14% | 18% | 13% | 13% | 20% | 15% | 16% | 14% | 18% | 18% | 15% | 9% | 19% | 15% | 14% | 13% | 18% | 8% | 18% | 16% | 17% |
| Total | 100% | 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% | 53% | 47% | 29% | 31% | 23% | 18% | 59% | 41% | 54% | 7% | 24% | 15% | 27% | 45% | 26% | 24% | 46% | 18% | 18% | 41% | 18% | 24% |