Results of SurveyUSA News Poll #14501

State of Ohio Awards Split-Decision on Palin-Biden Vice Presidential Debate: SurveyUSA interviewed 900 Ohio adults, of whom 620 watched the debate last night between Republican Sarah Palin and Democrat Joe Biden.

Of debate watchers: 37% say Palin was the clear winner. 38% say Biden was the clear winner. 24% say there was no clear winner.

Debate audience was 31% Republican, 37% Democrat, 24% Independent.

Of debate watchers:
47% say their opinion of Palin went up. 18% say their opinion of Palin went down.
38% say their opinion of Biden went up. 22% say their opinion of Biden went down.

Ohio debate watchers say: Palin was more likable. Biden had a better command of the facts. Biden was more ready to assume the office of President, should that become necessary.

50% say that Biden makes the Democratic ticket stronger, 17% say he makes the ticket weaker, 32% say he makes no difference.
51% say that Palin makes the Republican ticket stronger, 33% say she makes the ticket weaker, 16% say she makes no difference.

76% of Republicans and 56% overall think Palin would be a better Vice President than Dick Cheney.
28% of Republicans and 57% overall think Biden would be a better Vice President than Dick Cheney.

SurveyUSA state of Ohio research conducted exclusively for WCMH Columbus, WHIO Dayton, and WKYC Cleveland.

1	Was Sarah Palin the clear winner? Was Joe Biden the clear winner? Or was there no clear winner?

620 Debate Watchers	All	Gender		Age								Race				Party Affiliation			Ideology			Region
Margin of Sampling Error: ± 4%	All	Male	Female	18-20	21-24	25-34	35-44	45-54	55-64	65-74	75+	White	Black	Hispanic	Other	Republic	Democrat	Independ	Conserva	Moderate	Liberal	Toledo A	Dayton A	Cincinna	Columbus	Clevelan	SE Ohio
Palin	37%	37%	38%	**	**	**	**	**	**	**	27%	40%	16%	**	**	67%	11%	35%	65%	28%	10%	30%	40%	55%	43%	31%	**
Biden	38%	36%	40%	**	**	**	**	**	**	**	40%	35%	68%	**	**	9%	66%	37%	14%	48%	66%	30%	34%	32%	37%	44%	**
No Clear Winner	24%	26%	21%	**	**	**	**	**	**	**	33%	24%	16%	**	**	24%	23%	27%	21%	24%	24%	40%	26%	13%	19%	24%	**
Not Sure	0%	1%	0%	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	0%	0%	**	**	0%	0%	1%	1%	0%	0%	0%	1%	0%	1%	1%	**
Total	100%	100%	100%	0%	0%	0%	0%	0%	0%	0%	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%
Composition of Debate Watchers	100%	51%	49%	0%	0%	0%	0%	0%	0%	0%	100%	86%	11%	1%	2%	31%	37%	24%	32%	36%	12%	8%	11%	12%	21%	44%	4%

2	Did your opinion of Sarah Palin go up? down? Or stay the same?

620 Debate Watchers	All	Gender		Age								Race				Party Affiliation			Ideology			Region
Margin of Sampling Error: ± 4%	All	Male	Female	18-20	21-24	25-34	35-44	45-54	55-64	65-74	75+	White	Black	Hispanic	Other	Republic	Democrat	Independ	Conserva	Moderate	Liberal	Toledo A	Dayton A	Cincinna	Columbus	Clevelan	SE Ohio
Up	47%	51%	44%	**	**	**	**	**	**	**	48%	51%	16%	**	**	69%	24%	52%	71%	39%	25%	50%	48%	48%	48%	44%	**
Down	18%	17%	20%	**	**	**	**	**	**	**	17%	15%	42%	**	**	5%	31%	17%	10%	20%	27%	20%	18%	12%	16%	21%	**
Same	34%	32%	36%	**	**	**	**	**	**	**	36%	34%	42%	**	**	25%	45%	31%	19%	41%	48%	30%	33%	39%	35%	34%	**
Total	100%	100%	100%	0%	0%	0%	0%	0%	0%	0%	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%
Composition of Debate Watchers	100%	51%	49%	0%	0%	0%	0%	0%	0%	0%	100%	86%	11%	1%	2%	31%	37%	24%	32%	36%	12%	8%	11%	12%	21%	44%	4%

3	Did your opinion of Joe Biden go up? down? Or stay the same?

620 Debate Watchers	All	Gender		Age								Race				Party Affiliation			Ideology			Region
Margin of Sampling Error: ± 4%	All	Male	Female	18-20	21-24	25-34	35-44	45-54	55-64	65-74	75+	White	Black	Hispanic	Other	Republic	Democrat	Independ	Conserva	Moderate	Liberal	Toledo A	Dayton A	Cincinna	Columbus	Clevelan	SE Ohio
Up	38%	35%	41%	**	**	**	**	**	**	**	39%	35%	65%	**	**	13%	62%	36%	16%	46%	58%	31%	36%	33%	38%	42%	**
Down	22%	23%	22%	**	**	**	**	**	**	**	17%	23%	15%	**	**	36%	11%	19%	34%	16%	19%	25%	26%	28%	24%	19%	**
Same	40%	42%	38%	**	**	**	**	**	**	**	45%	42%	20%	**	**	51%	27%	44%	50%	38%	24%	44%	39%	40%	38%	39%	**
Total	100%	100%	100%	0%	0%	0%	0%	0%	0%	0%	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%
Composition of Debate Watchers	100%	51%	49%	0%	0%	0%	0%	0%	0%	0%	100%	86%	11%	1%	2%	31%	37%	24%	32%	36%	12%	8%	11%	12%	21%	44%	4%

4	Who had a better command of the facts?

620 Debate Watchers	All	Gender		Age								Race				Party Affiliation			Ideology			Region
Margin of Sampling Error: ± 4%	All	Male	Female	18-20	21-24	25-34	35-44	45-54	55-64	65-74	75+	White	Black	Hispanic	Other	Republic	Democrat	Independ	Conserva	Moderate	Liberal	Toledo A	Dayton A	Cincinna	Columbus	Clevelan	SE Ohio
Palin	35%	37%	33%	**	**	**	**	**	**	**	21%	37%	19%	**	**	58%	18%	32%	57%	25%	16%	42%	40%	40%	33%	32%	**
Biden	46%	45%	46%	**	**	**	**	**	**	**	50%	42%	76%	**	**	20%	69%	47%	20%	60%	64%	37%	42%	36%	43%	52%	**
Not Sure	19%	18%	21%	**	**	**	**	**	**	**	30%	21%	5%	**	**	22%	13%	21%	22%	15%	20%	21%	18%	23%	24%	15%	**
Total	100%	100%	100%	0%	0%	0%	0%	0%	0%	0%	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%
Composition of Debate Watchers	100%	51%	49%	0%	0%	0%	0%	0%	0%	0%	100%	86%	11%	1%	2%	31%	37%	24%	32%	36%	12%	8%	11%	12%	21%	44%	4%

5	Who was more likeable?

620 Debate Watchers	All	Gender		Age								Race				Party Affiliation			Ideology			Region
Margin of Sampling Error: ± 4%	All	Male	Female	18-20	21-24	25-34	35-44	45-54	55-64	65-74	75+	White	Black	Hispanic	Other	Republic	Democrat	Independ	Conserva	Moderate	Liberal	Toledo A	Dayton A	Cincinna	Columbus	Clevelan	SE Ohio
Palin	53%	55%	51%	**	**	**	**	**	**	**	47%	57%	19%	**	**	84%	26%	53%	79%	44%	22%	58%	55%	68%	56%	46%	**
Biden	33%	31%	35%	**	**	**	**	**	**	**	35%	29%	69%	**	**	7%	61%	27%	13%	39%	60%	26%	34%	21%	31%	39%	**
Not Sure	14%	13%	14%	**	**	**	**	**	**	**	18%	14%	11%	**	**	9%	12%	19%	8%	17%	18%	16%	10%	11%	13%	15%	**
Total	100%	100%	100%	0%	0%	0%	0%	0%	0%	0%	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%
Composition of Debate Watchers	100%	51%	49%	0%	0%	0%	0%	0%	0%	0%	100%	86%	11%	1%	2%	31%	37%	24%	32%	36%	12%	8%	11%	12%	21%	44%	4%

6	Who appears more ready to assume the office of President, if that should become necessary?

620 Debate Watchers	All	Gender		Age								Race				Party Affiliation			Ideology			Region
Margin of Sampling Error: ± 4%	All	Male	Female	18-20	21-24	25-34	35-44	45-54	55-64	65-74	75+	White	Black	Hispanic	Other	Republic	Democrat	Independ	Conserva	Moderate	Liberal	Toledo A	Dayton A	Cincinna	Columbus	Clevelan	SE Ohio
Palin	36%	38%	35%	**	**	**	**	**	**	**	29%	39%	15%	**	**	63%	14%	31%	61%	28%	14%	41%	40%	46%	34%	32%	**
Biden	51%	51%	52%	**	**	**	**	**	**	**	53%	48%	82%	**	**	20%	81%	51%	22%	65%	76%	46%	45%	34%	50%	60%	**
Not Sure	12%	11%	14%	**	**	**	**	**	**	**	19%	14%	3%	**	**	17%	4%	18%	17%	8%	10%	14%	15%	20%	16%	8%	**
Total	100%	100%	100%	0%	0%	0%	0%	0%	0%	0%	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%
Composition of Debate Watchers	100%	51%	49%	0%	0%	0%	0%	0%	0%	0%	100%	86%	11%	1%	2%	31%	37%	24%	32%	36%	12%	8%	11%	12%	21%	44%	4%

7	Who had the best one-liner?

620 Debate Watchers	All	Gender		Age								Race				Party Affiliation			Ideology			Region
Margin of Sampling Error: ± 4%	All	Male	Female	18-20	21-24	25-34	35-44	45-54	55-64	65-74	75+	White	Black	Hispanic	Other	Republic	Democrat	Independ	Conserva	Moderate	Liberal	Toledo A	Dayton A	Cincinna	Columbus	Clevelan	SE Ohio
Palin	52%	51%	53%	**	**	**	**	**	**	**	51%	56%	22%	**	**	79%	30%	54%	72%	45%	27%	45%	58%	63%	54%	47%	**
Biden	26%	24%	28%	**	**	**	**	**	**	**	24%	21%	64%	**	**	6%	47%	22%	11%	31%	41%	30%	27%	15%	23%	31%	**
Not Sure	22%	24%	20%	**	**	**	**	**	**	**	25%	23%	14%	**	**	15%	23%	25%	17%	24%	32%	25%	15%	22%	24%	22%	**
Total	100%	100%	100%	0%	0%	0%	0%	0%	0%	0%	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%
Composition of Debate Watchers	100%	51%	49%	0%	0%	0%	0%	0%	0%	0%	100%	86%	11%	1%	2%	31%	37%	24%	32%	36%	12%	8%	11%	12%	21%	44%	4%

8	Does Joe Biden make the Democratic ticket stronger, weaker, or does he make no difference?

620 Debate Watchers	All	Gender		Age								Race				Party Affiliation			Ideology			Region
Margin of Sampling Error: ± 4%	All	Male	Female	18-20	21-24	25-34	35-44	45-54	55-64	65-74	75+	White	Black	Hispanic	Other	Republic	Democrat	Independ	Conserva	Moderate	Liberal	Toledo A	Dayton A	Cincinna	Columbus	Clevelan	SE Ohio
Stronger	50%	46%	54%	**	**	**	**	**	**	**	58%	46%	80%	**	**	23%	73%	49%	26%	63%	73%	34%	52%	45%	47%	56%	**
Weaker	17%	19%	15%	**	**	**	**	**	**	**	8%	18%	10%	**	**	29%	8%	17%	29%	13%	11%	26%	15%	12%	18%	17%	**
No Difference	32%	35%	29%	**	**	**	**	**	**	**	34%	35%	10%	**	**	47%	18%	33%	44%	24%	15%	40%	33%	43%	33%	26%	**
Not Sure	1%	0%	2%	**	**	**	**	**	**	**	1%	1%	1%	**	**	0%	1%	0%	1%	0%	2%	0%	1%	0%	1%	1%	**
Total	100%	100%	100%	0%	0%	0%	0%	0%	0%	0%	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%
Composition of Debate Watchers	100%	51%	49%	0%	0%	0%	0%	0%	0%	0%	100%	86%	11%	1%	2%	31%	37%	24%	32%	36%	12%	8%	11%	12%	21%	44%	4%

9	Does Sarah Palin make the Republican ticket stronger, weaker, or does she makes no difference?

620 Debate Watchers	All	Gender		Age								Race				Party Affiliation			Ideology			Region
Margin of Sampling Error: ± 4%	All	Male	Female	18-20	21-24	25-34	35-44	45-54	55-64	65-74	75+	White	Black	Hispanic	Other	Republic	Democrat	Independ	Conserva	Moderate	Liberal	Toledo A	Dayton A	Cincinna	Columbus	Clevelan	SE Ohio
Stronger	51%	51%	51%	**	**	**	**	**	**	**	43%	55%	18%	**	**	80%	26%	49%	75%	44%	26%	50%	52%	60%	54%	46%	**
Weaker	33%	32%	33%	**	**	**	**	**	**	**	33%	30%	62%	**	**	10%	55%	33%	13%	39%	56%	42%	27%	27%	27%	38%	**
No Difference	16%	16%	16%	**	**	**	**	**	**	**	23%	15%	20%	**	**	9%	18%	18%	12%	17%	17%	9%	20%	12%	19%	16%	**
Not Sure	0%	0%	0%	**	**	**	**	**	**	**	1%	1%	0%	**	**	0%	0%	0%	0%	0%	1%	0%	0%	1%	1%	1%	**
Total	100%	100%	100%	0%	0%	0%	0%	0%	0%	0%	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%
Composition of Debate Watchers	100%	51%	49%	0%	0%	0%	0%	0%	0%	0%	100%	86%	11%	1%	2%	31%	37%	24%	32%	36%	12%	8%	11%	12%	21%	44%	4%

10	Was the moderator of the debate, Gwen Ifill, fair to both candidates? Unfair to Palin? Or Unfair to Biden?

620 Debate Watchers	All	Gender		Age								Race				Party Affiliation			Ideology			Region
Margin of Sampling Error: ± 2.5%	All	Male	Female	18-20	21-24	25-34	35-44	45-54	55-64	65-74	75+	White	Black	Hispanic	Other	Republic	Democrat	Independ	Conserva	Moderate	Liberal	Toledo A	Dayton A	Cincinna	Columbus	Clevelan	SE Ohio
Fair To Both	89%	86%	92%	**	**	**	**	**	**	**	97%	89%	89%	**	**	87%	90%	89%	87%	91%	92%	91%	84%	93%	85%	90%	**
Unfair To Palin	7%	9%	5%	**	**	**	**	**	**	**	0%	7%	9%	**	**	10%	5%	7%	10%	5%	6%	8%	11%	5%	7%	7%	**
Unfair To Biden	1%	1%	1%	**	**	**	**	**	**	**	1%	1%	1%	**	**	0%	2%	2%	1%	1%	2%	1%	3%	0%	2%	1%	**
Not Sure	3%	4%	2%	**	**	**	**	**	**	**	1%	3%	1%	**	**	3%	3%	2%	2%	3%	1%	0%	2%	3%	5%	3%	**
Total	100%	100%	100%	0%	0%	0%	0%	0%	0%	0%	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%
Composition of Debate Watchers	100%	51%	49%	0%	0%	0%	0%	0%	0%	0%	100%	86%	11%	1%	2%	31%	37%	24%	32%	36%	12%	8%	11%	12%	21%	44%	4%

11	Would Sarah Palin be a better Vice President than Dick Cheney? Worse? Or would she be no different than Cheney?

620 Debate Watchers	All	Gender		Age								Race				Party Affiliation			Ideology			Region
Margin of Sampling Error: ± 4%	All	Male	Female	18-20	21-24	25-34	35-44	45-54	55-64	65-74	75+	White	Black	Hispanic	Other	Republic	Democrat	Independ	Conserva	Moderate	Liberal	Toledo A	Dayton A	Cincinna	Columbus	Clevelan	SE Ohio
Better	56%	59%	53%	**	**	**	**	**	**	**	56%	60%	19%	**	**	76%	36%	60%	72%	50%	41%	54%	56%	68%	62%	49%	**
Worse	18%	19%	16%	**	**	**	**	**	**	**	9%	15%	42%	**	**	11%	27%	13%	11%	21%	30%	13%	11%	9%	11%	27%	**
No Different	23%	19%	27%	**	**	**	**	**	**	**	32%	21%	37%	**	**	11%	34%	22%	14%	26%	27%	31%	28%	22%	21%	21%	**
Not Sure	4%	3%	4%	**	**	**	**	**	**	**	2%	4%	2%	**	**	2%	4%	4%	2%	3%	2%	2%	5%	1%	6%	3%	**
Total	100%	100%	100%	0%	0%	0%	0%	0%	0%	0%	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%
Composition of Debate Watchers	100%	51%	49%	0%	0%	0%	0%	0%	0%	0%	100%	86%	11%	1%	2%	31%	37%	24%	32%	36%	12%	8%	11%	12%	21%	44%	4%

12	Would Joe Biden be a better Vice President than Dick Cheney? Worse? Or would he be no different than Cheney?

620 Debate Watchers	All	Gender		Age								Race				Party Affiliation			Ideology			Region
Margin of Sampling Error: ± 4%	All	Male	Female	18-20	21-24	25-34	35-44	45-54	55-64	65-74	75+	White	Black	Hispanic	Other	Republic	Democrat	Independ	Conserva	Moderate	Liberal	Toledo A	Dayton A	Cincinna	Columbus	Clevelan	SE Ohio
Better	57%	58%	57%	**	**	**	**	**	**	**	66%	55%	74%	**	**	28%	84%	59%	32%	68%	79%	63%	55%	42%	60%	62%	**
Worse	21%	23%	19%	**	**	**	**	**	**	**	13%	22%	13%	**	**	41%	7%	18%	39%	14%	10%	20%	21%	18%	23%	21%	**
No Different	18%	15%	21%	**	**	**	**	**	**	**	17%	19%	13%	**	**	26%	8%	18%	25%	16%	9%	13%	19%	40%	16%	15%	**
Not Sure	3%	3%	3%	**	**	**	**	**	**	**	3%	4%	1%	**	**	4%	0%	5%	5%	2%	2%	3%	5%	0%	2%	3%	**
Total	100%	100%	100%	0%	0%	0%	0%	0%	0%	0%	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%
Composition of Debate Watchers	100%	51%	49%	0%	0%	0%	0%	0%	0%	0%	100%	86%	11%	1%	2%	31%	37%	24%	32%	36%	12%	8%	11%	12%	21%	44%	4%

** Too few respondents of this type were interviewed for this data to be meaningful.