Results of SurveyUSA News Poll #14317
 
Palin Speech Moves Independents: Results of two nationwide polls conducted by SurveyUSA show Sarah Palin's speech at the Republican National Convention on the evening of 09/03/08 has helped the McCain campaign.

24 hours ago, independent voters nationwide were split on whether Palin was an asset or a liability to McCain's campaign. Today, by a 2:1 margin, independents say Palin is an asset. Overnight, the percentage calling the Alaska governor an asset to the campaign climbed 13 points; the percentage calling her a liability fell 17 points.

The numbers are similar among moderates, who 24 hours ago viewed Palin as a liability by an 11 point margin; today, Palin is seen as an asset by an 18 point margin.
 
Betting Line Changes: 24 hours ago, when asked if they would bet on Obama or McCain becoming president, Obama was a 16:15 favorite; today, it's flipped, and McCain is favored by the same ratio.
 
Grading The Speech: Of those who watched Palin speak last night, 60% give the speech a grade of "A." When those giving lower grades are factored in and a standard grade point average computed on a 4-point scale, Palin scores a "B," overall. Among Republicans, she gets an "A-;" among Independents, a solid "B;" among Democrats, a "C."
 
Filtering: SurveyUSA interviewed 1200 adults in two separate surveys, on 09/03/08 and 09/04/08. In each survey, those identifying themselves as registered voters were asked the questions which followed.
 
1Did you hear Sarah Palin's speech at the Republican National Convention last night?
1061 Registered VotersAllGenderAge<50 / 50+RaceParty AffiliationIdeologyIncomeRegion
Credibility Interval: ± 2.7 pct pointsMaleFemale18-3435-4950-6465+18-4950+WhiteBlackHispanicOtherRepublicDemocratIndependConservaModerateLiberal< $40 K> $40 KNortheasMidwestSouthWest
Yes75%77%73%69%78%77%79%73%78%77%69%63%72%84%65%77%86%76%67%70%77%74%73%76%77%
No24%22%27%31%22%22%21%27%22%22%31%33%28%16%33%23%14%24%33%28%23%26%26%24%21%
Total100%100%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 Registered Voters100%48%52%29%28%26%18%57%43%76%10%8%6%36%33%26%34%38%14%30%70%19%23%36%22%
 
2What grade do you give her on the speech? An A, B, C, D, or an F?
796 Who Heard SpeechAllGenderAge<50 / 50+RaceParty AffiliationIdeologyIncomeRegion
Credibility Interval: ± 3.5 pct pointsMaleFemale18-3435-4950-6465+18-4950+WhiteBlackHispanicOtherRepublicDemocratIndependConservaModerateLiberal< $40 K> $40 KNortheasMidwestSouthWest
A60%60%60%54%65%58%65%60%61%64%38%62%38%86%26%57%84%52%23%53%64%61%61%63%53%
B11%9%13%8%14%9%13%11%11%12%5%9%5%6%17%11%4%13%16%9%11%10%10%10%14%
C11%11%11%11%9%15%10%10%13%10%16%11%18%2%21%14%3%15%21%13%10%9%13%11%11%
D9%10%8%13%7%8%7%10%8%7%23%18%7%2%19%9%4%13%17%10%9%10%8%7%13%
F8%9%8%14%6%8%5%10%7%6%17%0%32%4%16%8%6%6%23%13%6%9%7%8%9%
Not Sure0%0%0%0%0%1%1%0%1%0%0%0%1%0%0%1%0%0%0%1%0%1%0%0%0%
Total100%100%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 Who Heard Speech100%49%51%26%29%26%19%55%45%78%9%7%6%40%29%27%39%38%12%28%72%19%22%36%23%
G.P.A.3.13.03.12.73.23.03.33.03.13.22.23.12.13.72.23.03.62.92.02.83.23.13.13.22.9
 
On the whole, is Sarah Palin an asset to John McCain? A liability to McCain? Or, do you not know enough to say?
1061 Registered VotersAllGenderAge<50 / 50+RaceParty AffiliationIdeologyIncomeRegion
Credibility Interval: ± 3.1 pct pointsMaleFemale18-3435-4950-6465+18-4950+WhiteBlackHispanicOtherRepublicDemocratIndependConservaModerateLiberal< $40 K> $40 KNortheasMidwestSouthWest
Asset55%58%52%51%60%52%57%55%54%59%33%46%50%82%26%56%81%48%29%47%59%53%56%55%54%
Liability24%26%22%26%20%28%20%23%25%23%37%11%21%7%39%27%8%30%46%26%22%28%20%22%27%
Don't Know Enough19%15%22%20%17%18%22%19%20%17%27%33%19%11%29%16%9%18%25%23%17%18%23%20%14%
Not Sure3%1%4%3%3%2%1%3%2%1%3%10%9%1%6%1%2%3%0%4%2%2%1%3%4%
Total100%100%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 Registered Voters100%48%52%29%28%26%18%57%43%76%10%8%6%36%33%26%34%38%14%30%70%19%23%36%22%
 
Does McCain's selection of Sarah Palin as a running mate reflect well on McCain? Reflect poorly on McCain? Or do you not know enough to say?
1061 Registered VotersAllGenderAge<50 / 50+RaceParty AffiliationIdeologyIncomeRegion
Credibility Interval: ± 3.1 pct pointsMaleFemale18-3435-4950-6465+18-4950+WhiteBlackHispanicOtherRepublicDemocratIndependConservaModerateLiberal< $40 K> $40 KNortheasMidwestSouthWest
Reflects Well On McCain55%58%52%51%60%52%56%56%53%60%28%48%41%84%24%55%80%48%26%47%59%53%53%57%54%
Poorly On McCain30%30%30%33%25%36%24%29%31%25%54%31%52%9%52%32%13%37%59%32%28%34%29%28%32%
Dont' Know Enough14%10%17%14%14%10%18%14%14%14%17%16%6%7%22%11%6%15%15%18%12%13%17%14%11%
Not Sure1%1%1%2%1%2%1%1%2%1%1%4%0%0%2%2%2%0%1%3%1%0%1%2%3%
Total100%100%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 Registered Voters100%48%52%29%28%26%18%57%43%76%10%8%6%36%33%26%34%38%14%30%70%19%23%36%22%
 
On the whole, is Joe Biden an asset to Barack Obama? A liability to Obama? Or, do you not know enough to say?
1061 Registered VotersAllGenderAge<50 / 50+RaceParty AffiliationIdeologyIncomeRegion
Credibility Interval: ± 3.1 pct pointsMaleFemale18-3435-4950-6465+18-4950+WhiteBlackHispanicOtherRepublicDemocratIndependConservaModerateLiberal< $40 K> $40 KNortheasMidwestSouthWest
Asset50%50%49%50%44%56%50%47%54%48%71%41%47%30%71%52%34%58%67%53%48%52%47%47%55%
Liability27%29%25%27%31%21%28%29%24%28%12%23%44%45%11%25%44%23%11%22%29%30%25%28%25%
Don't Know Enough22%19%25%22%24%22%21%23%22%23%16%35%9%24%17%23%21%18%21%24%22%18%28%23%19%
Not Sure1%1%1%0%2%1%0%1%1%1%0%0%0%1%1%0%1%0%0%1%1%0%0%2%1%
Total100%100%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 Registered Voters100%48%52%29%28%26%18%57%43%76%10%8%6%36%33%26%34%38%14%30%70%19%23%36%22%
 
Does Obama's selection of Joe Biden as a running mate reflect well on Obama? Reflect poorly on Obama? Or do you not know enough to say?
1061 Registered VotersAllGenderAge<50 / 50+RaceParty AffiliationIdeologyIncomeRegion
Credibility Interval: ± 3.1 pct pointsMaleFemale18-3435-4950-6465+18-4950+WhiteBlackHispanicOtherRepublicDemocratIndependConservaModerateLiberal< $40 K> $40 KNortheasMidwestSouthWest
Reflects Well On Obama48%49%47%48%44%55%47%46%51%47%71%40%40%25%73%50%28%58%71%49%47%51%45%45%54%
Poorly On Obama31%34%29%31%37%28%28%34%28%31%17%39%53%52%10%31%52%26%9%27%34%30%27%35%30%
Dont' Know Enough20%16%23%20%19%17%25%20%20%22%12%21%7%22%17%18%20%16%20%22%19%19%28%18%15%
Not Sure1%1%1%1%1%0%0%1%0%1%0%0%0%0%0%0%1%0%0%1%0%1%0%1%1%
Total100%100%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 Registered Voters100%48%52%29%28%26%18%57%43%76%10%8%6%36%33%26%34%38%14%30%70%19%23%36%22%
 
If you were placing a bet today, would you bet that Barack Obama will be elected president? Or, John McCain will be elected president?
1061 Registered VotersAllGenderAge<50 / 50+RaceParty AffiliationIdeologyIncomeRegion
Credibility Interval: ± 3.1 pct pointsMaleFemale18-3435-4950-6465+18-4950+WhiteBlackHispanicOtherRepublicDemocratIndependConservaModerateLiberal< $40 K> $40 KNortheasMidwestSouthWest
Barack Obama45%44%45%50%41%47%39%45%44%40%73%48%51%16%74%47%22%50%70%52%41%45%47%41%48%
John McCain48%49%47%41%54%47%51%48%49%52%25%47%35%79%22%43%72%44%24%39%53%47%47%51%45%
Not Sure7%7%7%9%5%6%10%7%7%7%2%5%14%5%3%10%6%7%6%9%6%8%5%8%7%
Total100%100%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 Registered Voters100%48%52%29%28%26%18%57%43%76%10%8%6%36%33%26%34%38%14%30%70%19%23%36%22%
 
8Is the media rooting for Barack Obama? Rooting for John McCain? Or trying its best to be fair to both?
1061 Registered VotersAllGenderAge<50 / 50+RaceParty AffiliationIdeologyIncomeRegion
Credibility Interval: ± 3.1 pct pointsMaleFemale18-3435-4950-6465+18-4950+WhiteBlackHispanicOtherRepublicDemocratIndependConservaModerateLiberal< $40 K> $40 KNortheasMidwestSouthWest
Barack Obama54%58%50%55%59%48%52%57%50%58%37%40%49%80%27%55%79%48%30%49%57%56%52%56%51%
John McCain8%7%8%9%5%7%9%7%8%8%6%9%9%4%10%9%4%9%13%11%6%10%7%7%8%
Being Fair To Both35%31%39%31%33%40%36%32%38%32%55%44%30%13%59%33%14%42%51%33%36%33%36%36%34%
Not Sure4%4%3%4%3%5%2%4%4%3%2%6%13%3%4%3%3%2%7%7%1%2%4%2%8%
Total100%100%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 Registered Voters100%48%52%29%28%26%18%57%43%76%10%8%6%36%33%26%34%38%14%30%70%19%23%36%22%