December 13, 2007
Posted: 04:45 PM ET

A CNN focus group weighed in on the Democratic debate Thursday.

JOHNSTON, Iowa (CNN) — In interviews conducted immediately after Thursday's Des Moines Register debate, most of the 23 undecided Democratic voters surveyed said they thought former Sen. John Edwards came out on top ­ and said he would get their vote if the election were held today.

Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois placed second in a focus group conducted by CNN when asked who would get their vote, and Sen. Hillary Clinton was the third choice.

Some of the 14 women and 9 men said they were swayed by Thursday's debate:
two said they decided to support Clinton, two said they decided to back Edwards, and one said she was going to vote for Obama.

– CNN's Mary Snow and Shirley Zilberstein

Filed under: Barack Obama • Hillary Clinton • Iowa • John Edwards


scott, lithonia, georgia   December 15th, 2007 7:03 pm ET

BEWARE OF A SHEEP IN SHEEP'S CLOTHING.

Jason P, Duluth, GA   December 15th, 2007 2:41 pm ET

Obama can be trusted to tell the truth only if you are too stupid or brainwashed to know what the truth is.

He claimed he wasn't planning on running for President as long as the other candidates. Yet it is well documented that he has been planning on running for president since he arrived in the Senate, since he was in law school, and even since he was in grade school. Now when these things are pointed out his response is not to attempt to defend himself by claiming that he was in fact telling the truth, (or admitt he was lying); but rather to respond by making the issue that people were talking about his childhood. Apparently his childhood is only relevant when he is claiming it as his foreign policy experience.

No one was criticizing Mr. Obama's drug use per se, simply pointing out that it opens the door for all sort of messiness in a general election. The larger point is that we don't know alot about Mr. Obama and that carries a risk. His popularity is largely a honeymoon period he benefits from because he hasn't been in the public eye for long. To confuse that for electability is quite ignorant. Mr. Obama's willingness to discuss this so openly puts him in a very tough position. When it becomes an issue in the general election he will have to address it at lenght or risk being a hypocrite. This will not be a help to him. I also find it quite hypocritical for the Obama camp to constantly stress Clinton's high negatives, but when th Clinton camp points out vunlerabilties of Obama in the general election that is wrong.

I also heard that the Obama camp claimed that the Clinton camp has gone negative because they were losing when the race was positive. It is clear that Mrs. Clinton began to slip after the Philadelphia debate when the entire democratic feild went negative against her including Mr. Obama. For the Obama camp to now claim that Mrs. Clinton went negative first is the type of bold face lie that has become the mark of Obama. Railing against the system does not mean you are telling the truth. It just makes you lies all the more hypocritical.

NO DEMS OR LIBS!   December 14th, 2007 8:26 pm ET

HILLARY WILL BE IMPEACHED LIKE HER HUBBY. IF SHE IS NOT THE NOM? SHE WILL DIVORCE HIM I BET-LMAO

Pat Vancouver WA   December 14th, 2007 6:03 pm ET

Hey, Iowa! Why did you disqualify Dennis Kuchinich form you little party? Maybe he would talk about Impeaching the criminal in the White House? Personally I'll take an Edwards/Kuchinich ticket or a Kuchinich/Edwards ticket. That way one can get this occupation over with and the other can file charges against Bush/Cheney and Co. for war crimes and Treason. It is treason for outing an active Valerie Plame. As for war crimes- -lying to Congress to get us into this farce, torture, and because of the lie we can't begin to count the number of dead Iraqi citizen's, but we do know how many American Father's, Mother's, Sister's, Brother's, Nephew's, Neices, Grandchildren, Boyfriends, Girlfriends and loved ones that have been lost. Saddam was hanged for murdering less. Just because he leaves office he is still guilty of his crimes and should be prosecuted. Iraq shoud extradite them and try them under Iraqi Law.

john jacob,chicago,illinois   December 14th, 2007 4:07 pm ET

SENATOR HILLARY CLINTON IS GOING TO MAKE A GREAT PRESIDENT.

Ryan, Baltimore, MD   December 14th, 2007 2:43 pm ET

Its amazing to me how Clinton supporters or Obama supporters can have the audacity to claim that they are not getting fair, unbiased coverage from CNN. There are more candidates in this race than CNN likes to acknowledge. How about CNN pays more attention to the Biden campaign and the great progress he has been making (despite the media's reluctance to cover him) in Iowa?

William P. Eskdale, St. Petersburg, FL   December 14th, 2007 12:12 pm ET

I decided that I will vote for no Republican ever again, not that Dems are much better but the current President has made it so I can never vote Republican Again. So that leaves Obama, Hillary and John. Starting with Hillary–I can't stand her–she's calculating, ambitious, disingenuous, just like her husband, and a lot less personable. She's claiming 35 years experience–as what? First lady of a rinky dink redneck state and then as of the US. Neither position is elected and neither qualifies as "experience" if you ask me. By the way who says experience should be the big factor here? Our founders had the good sense to leave the job to only native borns over the age of 35 as I recall. So that leaves Obama or Edwards..I like them both. I wish they'd make a deal to become a ticket..they'd knock out Hillary and probably clean the floor with the Republican Flip Floppers and the Fundamentalist.

Go John, Go Obama, either one. I'll vote for Obama first–I think he's the most likely one for a complete change, but I can easily vote for John should he come out on top.

–I'm a registered independent.

Scott Austin, TX   December 14th, 2007 11:59 am ET

Edwards has my vote!

Frank Heintz   December 14th, 2007 11:42 am ET

A lot of ultra-conservative Republicans are praying that Hillary Clinton will be the Democratic nominee, because Edwards or Obama would be infinitely harder to beat. Please give Edwards' positions a closer look. He's the best candidate by a mile!

Surrealist, Fort Myers, FL   December 14th, 2007 9:05 am ET

Finally!!!!
It looks like the message is getting out! We need business as "unusual" in the Presidents chair–and we need it "yesterday".

Not only is he a great leader who demonstrates the highest examples of character, integrity and morality–he is determined to create a sense of urgency getting things done and always keeping "average Americans" at the bargaining table in the form of the President (as it should be) in Washington–John Edwards still won't accept PAC or SI money!!You all know–the PAC's and special interests are pouring $$ into other candidates–especially the GOP. I'm proud to put my support behind this fine man. In 30 years of voting, he's the first genuine article I've had a chance to vote for. I'm a proud retired military veteran who "survived" from Vietnam to Desert Storm–I'm excited as hell to finally have a President and Commander In Chief I can be proud of.

Laurence, Newport News, Va.   December 14th, 2007 8:38 am ET

I admire most people for their accomplishments in their choosen fields. Politics no exception. Hillary Clinton has accomplished a lot, yet this campaign has given me the opportunity to get a better understanding of Hillary. Certain situations make it impossible to conceal the person/politician an individual would have you to view them as from the one they actually are. Over time it becomes for many easy to distinguish. This campaign has revealed a lot about her character that one might not have been aware of previously. And it shows what many fear about the capability of some women to attain to such responsibilty and authority. I do not mean to imply that women can't be president. We've seen around the globe proof to the contrary as to that fact. But let's not be coy about this because after all this is America the most powerful country in the history of mankind. It's not women that come into question here, it's a particular woman. And that woman is Hillary Clinton. I believe in order to get this job she'd sell her soul if it were her's to do so. But all evidence being brought to bear shows that she's certainly willing to argue the point.

Dan (Columbia, MD)   December 14th, 2007 8:26 am ET

Obama pwned Hillary in that debate.

She came off as very unauthentic and bland.

RMRN.Y.   December 14th, 2007 8:20 am ET

Deeanna,PA.

The Candidate of fiction is Hillary with less elected experience and all sides of the issues old politics - she is nearly invisible and that is why she is fading - nobody can see her.

Obama is out there - complete issue statements on his web Obama 08, and most importantly he is on the stump
with the most highly motivated staff
I have ever seen.

Rock the nation and the world!!!

Obama 08

Anonymous   December 14th, 2007 7:21 am ET

WE ARE SICK OF CNNS BIASED POSTING COMMENTS OBVIOUSLY THIS IS ANOTHER HARPO OWNER NEWS STATION, YOU'VE LOST THIS VIEWER!

Mitchell, Portland, Oregon   December 14th, 2007 4:26 am ET

I have seen the clip of Obama saying he looked forward to Clinton advising him, and I have to say I have never heard more villain-esque cackling from Clinton.

She is not doing a very good job of shaking off her reputation for being cold, and Obama took that opportunity to land what could be a knock-out punch.

Emil, Silver Spring, MD   December 13th, 2007 11:32 pm ET

Sen. Clinton, Sen. Obama or Sen. John Edwards?
it is no one's game.

erika morgan black dimond wa   December 13th, 2007 10:45 pm ET

Biden still makes the most sense to me, the real Statesman, real orator, best able to think out of the box. We really will need a genuine person to lift America out of the inconsequence that Bush/Chaney and the GOP have bumbled us into.

Christine Atlanta, Ga.   December 13th, 2007 9:58 pm ET

I love this photo. Standing with the guys. After all the crap she has had to deal with for the past 15 years, and she is still willing to fight. She's got guts, and she's got my vote.

Connie, Louisville, Tn.   December 13th, 2007 9:18 pm ET

There's plenty of time for one to change their mind. Why would one debate help you pick a candidate?? You need to read all you can find on them and make an intelligient choice. We will not survive as a country with making the same choices over and over.

pam Eugene OR   December 13th, 2007 9:14 pm ET

Let's try again CNN.
Congratulations Hillary. Third place is where you belong.

NO DEMS,LA.   December 13th, 2007 9:02 pm ET

WHY DO I SEE DOLLAR SIGNS OVER THEIR HEADS?????

Daryl Sutherlin, Or.   December 13th, 2007 9:00 pm ET

Who will come up short in this picture?(:

Nancy Kempler Iowa   December 13th, 2007 8:49 pm ET

Once again, Clinton stands out, I really feel obama doesnt do well next to even other candidates, like Edwards or Clinton, he seems nerous and struggling to maintain his train of thought, only seems to do well on stage alone.
I'm voting for Clinton, she tje best choice!

Dazed and Confused in DC   December 13th, 2007 8:20 pm ET

This is the most confusing post I've ever read: all in the focus group were undecided. Five said they were swayed by the debate: 2 for Clinton, 2 for Edwards, and 2 for Obama. If they were all undecided, and if only five were swayed, then presumably the rest are still undecided. So how does Obama come out first, Edwards second, and Clinton third? This isn't that fuzzy math again, is it?

Julie, Atlanta, GA   December 13th, 2007 7:55 pm ET

America, please please wake up because we cannot afford to make another mistake.

John Edwards is THE most perfect candidate for so many reasons, NOT LEAST OF WHICH is that he's THE only one who can BEAT Republican nominee and win seats up and down the ticket.

Inform yourself on his policy positions (they're all there for you at JohnEdwards.com - just READ THEM) and then support John Edwards!

Go John Go John Go John!!!

rose howard apalachin,ny   December 13th, 2007 6:47 pm ET

after watching the debate today i am more convinced that edwards will be my choice. an ideal ticket would be richards and edwards. they come across as honest and passionate about getting america on the right track. i trust that edwards will return ours civil liberties and deal with the war crimes of the bush administration. edwards also speaks for me about the corporate destruction of america's middle class.

deeanna jacobs new castle pa   December 13th, 2007 6:32 pm ET

Hillary will win, let's get behind a winner, not the Obma fictional character.

Matthew, Bethlehem, PA   December 13th, 2007 6:19 pm ET

I read your homepage story on the Debate and CNN thinks Hillary won the debate. What are you guys, the Clinton News Network (CNN)??? Stop trying to 'push' Hillary down our throats and let us decide for ourselves!

aj huntington ny.   December 13th, 2007 6:17 pm ET

Now wait a minute ! At the cnn you tube debate there were supposed Republican undecided voters who were discovered to be liberal Democrats. So in this poll how do we know these 23 "undecided Democratic" voters actually are who they SAY they are?

Walt, Belton, TX   December 13th, 2007 6:15 pm ET

Hillary's the third choice for a lot of folks……………..

Naomi, Seattle Washington   December 13th, 2007 6:14 pm ET

Edwards is gaining momentum in Iowa and around the country. The CNN poll released on Dec 11th showed him performing the best against all Republican candidates, better than Clinton, better than Obama. When will the media start focusing on Edwards instead of the two "rock star" candidates? I hope people will stop using electability as a reason to support Clinton, who was the only Democrat in the CNN poll to actually lose to Republican candidates. It's time to start focusing on Edwards, the real candidate for change in Washington, the candidate with the best environmental plan, the best health care plan, and the only one who seems to realize that you can't serve the people while you take corporate donations.

Susan Krauss   December 13th, 2007 6:04 pm ET

The results of the poll showed Edwards winning by an amazingly high number of 39% yet it would was always mentioned only once and never mentioned again. Why is John Edwards being ignored by the media? He is an extremely viable candidate who polls as most electable and has a lot of popular support from both parties despite this lack of coverage?

Michelle D. - Atlanta, GA   December 13th, 2007 5:57 pm ET

Now people are waking up.

You go, John.

demwit   December 13th, 2007 5:55 pm ET

Beware of sheep in wolves clothing..

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