Updated — Snap Polls and Focus Groups!
TNR No real data reported, but this noted that the Luntz/Greenberg focus group went overwhelmingly for Obama.
Think Progress (go look at the video!):
Fox pollster Frank Luntz’s focus group showed that a majority was “moved” by Obama’s performance. They especially liked his answer pointing out that McCain was “wrong” on nearly every aspect of the Iraq war, including when he said the Iraq war would be quick and easy and that Americans would be greeted as liberators
CBS News shows Obama winning 40% and McCain 22%.
UPDATE: CNN Opinion Polling (h/t Matt Yglesias):
Who Did the Best Job In the Debate?
Obama 51%
McCain 38%Who Would Better Handle Economy?
Obama 58%
McCain 37%Who Would Better Handle Iraq?
Obama 52%
McCain 47%
Are there more? Drop your links in the comments…
Tags: 2008 Presidential, Polls
Good srtuff. I guess Obama’s performance was much more solid than I gave him credit for.
My feeling was that there were a ot of crushing blows that he left undelivered, but reading this, I guess that was by design.
Polling pr0n all over Daily Kos. In several snap polls, Obama’s lines “wrong about Iraq” polled the best. Obama’s likeability improved 29% in the Democracy Corps poll of undecideds. I think the Republicans constant “is he ready to lead?” really helped Obama here.
As Richard Wolffe suggested last night, McCain’s demeanor was mentioned frequently as something voters didn’t like.
As a voter I find McCain to be a creepy little freakshow.
Best link
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/9/27/71646/2857/993/612252
It has video!
Yes I agree with Jason . I felt that Obama needed more fire. But now that the snap polls are out including CNN 500 telephone survey I just didn’t give him enough credit
Jonathan Alter on MSNBC: The biggest loser? Sarah Palin. The debates set a standard she cannot live up to.
I agree, TT. I think we’re seeing the debate through a partisan lense when the debates are really aimed at undecideds and leaners. All Obama needed to do is convince them that he could go toe-to-toe with McCain, the experienced one.
Looking at the polling, several thing stood out:
– McCain’s body language and failure to look at Obama really, really hurt him
– The part at the beginning when Obama directly addressed the voters went over very well
– The “you were wrong” moment polled really, really well
– McCain won the “attacked the other candidate” category. I think a lot of people didn’t like that. As partisans, we want more attacks.
For fun, here was the Wonkette drinking game. Pretty funny!
http://wonkette.com/403075/coward-mccain-will-maybe-show-up-tonight-so-heres-your-debate-drinking-game
Interestingly enough, in spite of the lamentations of many Obama supporters relative to his tactics (including myself), he seems to be executing and sticking to a working strategy. This not only bodes well for November but also for how he will govern.
I think conservative pollster Frank Luntz’s group proclaiming the debate for Obama is the real shocking thing to take away.
Obama is just toying with John right now. The rhetoric will get more intense as each debate passes until McCain either snaps ,or drops dead in front of our eyes.
Intrade now at Obama 57.1 – McCain 41.6. Obama was at 55.7 on Friday morning, up 1.4. McCain was at 43.8, down 2.2.
In the next debate McCain will stare at Obama with a ghastly unblinking fixed gaze.
Intrade now at Obama 57.8 – McCain 41.8. I wonder when it will be Obama 60+ and McCain 40-
The polls are starting to look good, but my concern until it’s over is that even though people think Obama would make a great president or even just a good president, they won’t vote for him. Obama needs every single newly registered Dem to actually go to the polls and vote for him because there will be a large portion of regular voters out there who do not let go of prejudice. Sorry, my faith in mankind is weak. People will tell you all day long they’re going to vote for Obama and once inside that private little curtained booth, they’ll either pull the lever for the white guy or not pull it at all.
You might have the opposite, too – people saying that they are going to vote for McInsane, but then pulling for Obama.
Intrade
Obama holding steady at 57.8
McCain dropping to 41.0
The guys at 538 showed that intrade was being gamed by some traders who shorted Obama in unison every 8 hours or so.
The net/net is Obama is probably over 60 in real terms now.
In fact, at the Iowa electronic market Obama last traded at 64. Link
Hmm, people gaming a gambling website. Maybe McCain’s behind it . . . oh wait, he can’t use the internet.
Here’s an interesting paragraph from electoral-vote.com regarding the debate:
Great. But why the heck are they doing focus groups with that kind of profile in the first place?
Jason,
Isn’t that one of those questions that answers itself?