Eyewitness News Poll: Who won debate?

LOS ANGELES Just as California did after the 1st presidential debate, just as California did after the vice presidential debate, California judges Obama the "clear winner" of the 2nd presidential debate. Immediately following Tuesday night's town-hall, SurveyUSA interviewed 1,250 California adults, of whom 904 watched. Of debate watchers:

Was John McCain the clear winner? Was Barack Obama the clear winner? Or, was there no clear winner?

• 26 percent -- John McCain
• 56 percent -- Barack Obama
• 18 percent -- No Clear Winner

Asked of 904 debate watchers; Margin of Sampling Error for this question is plus or minus 3.3 percent


Did the candidates spend too much time attacking each other? Too little time? Or the right amount of time?

• 33 percent -- Too Much
• 17 percent -- Too Little
• 48 percent -- Just The Right Amount
• 2 percent -- Not Sure

Asked of 904 debate watchers; Margin of Sampling Error for this question is plus or minus 3.3 percent


Was Barack Obama too forceful? Not forceful enough? Or just right?

• 14 percent -- Too Forceful
• 19 percent -- Not Forceful Enough
• 63 percent -- Just Right
• 4 percent -- Not Sure

Asked of 904 debate watchers; Margin of Sampling Error for this question is plus or minus 3.3 percent


Was John McCain too forceful? Not forceful enough? Or just right?

• 42 percent -- Too Forceful
• 24 percent -- Not Forceful Enough
• 32 percent -- Just Right
• 2 percent -- Not Sure

Asked of 904 debate watchers; Margin of Sampling Error for this question is plus or minus 3.3 percent


Which candidate was more angry?

• 52 percent -- McCain
• 18 percent -- Obama
• 29 percent -- Not Sure

Asked of 904 debate watchers; Margin of Sampling Error for this question is plus or minus 3.3 percent


Which candidate laid out a better vision for America's future?

• 31 percent -- McCain
• 62 percent -- Obama
• 6 percent -- Not Sure

Asked of 904 debate watchers; Margin of Sampling Error for this question is plus or minus 3.2 percent


Was the moderator of the debate, Tom Brokaw, fair to both candidates? Unfair to McCain? Or Unfair to Obama?

• 86 percent -- Fair To Both
• 6 percent -- Unfair To McCain
• 7 percent -- Unfair To Obama
• 2 percent -- Not Sure

Asked of 904 debate watchers; Margin of Sampling Error for this question is plus or minus 2.3 percent


Was the town-hall format successful? Or unsuccessful?

• 62 percent -- Successful
• 22 percent -- Unsuccessful
• 16 percent -- Not Sure

Asked of 904 debate watchers; Margin of Sampling Error for this question is plus or minus 3.2 percent