Danville, Kentucky (CNN) - Call it a draw.
Forty-eight percent of voters who watched the vice presidential debate think that Rep. Paul Ryan won the showdown, according to a CNN/ORC International nationwide poll conducted right after Thursday night's faceoff. Forty-four percent say that Vice President Joe Biden was victorious. The Republican running mate's four point advantage among a debate audience that was more Republican than the country as a whole is within the survey's sampling error.
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Half of all debate watchers questioned in the poll said the showdown didn't make them more likely to vote for either of the candidates' bosses, 28% said the debate made them more likely to vote for Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney and 21% said the faceoff made them more likely to vote to re-elect President Barack Obama.
According to the survey, 55% said that the vice president did better than expected, with 51% saying that the congressman from Wisconsin performed better than expected.
By a 50%-41% margin, debate watchers say that Ryan rather than Biden better expressed himself.
MORE: Romney calls Ryan with congratulations after debate
Seven in ten said Biden was seen as spending more time attacking his opponent, and that may be a contributing factor in Ryan's 53%-43% advantage on being more likable. Ryan also had a slight advantage on being more in touch with the problems of average Americans.
One of the top jobs for the candidates in a vice presidential debate is to convince Americans that they would be able to step into the top job if something happened to the president. The poll indicates that both men were seen as qualified to be president if necessary, by roughly equal numbers.
"This poll does not and cannot reflect the views of all Americans. It only represents the views of people who watched the debate and by definition cannot be an indication of how the entire American public will react to Wednesday's debate in the coming days," cautions CNN Polling Director Keating Holland.
One-third of the respondents who participated in tonight's survey identified themselves as Republicans, with 31% identifying themselves as Democrats, and 34% identifying themselves as independents.
"That indicates that the sample of debate watchers is more Republican than an average of recent CNN polls of all Americans," adds Holland.
MORE: Obama: 'could not be prouder' of Biden debate
The CNN poll was conducted by ORC International, with 381 registered voters nationwide who watched the debate questioned by telephone. All interviews were conducted after the end of the debate. The survey's sampling error is plus or minus five percentage points.
A CBS News poll of uncommitted voters who watched the debate gave Biden the edge over Ryan by a 50%-31% margin. Uncommitted voters made up roughly ten percent or less of the debate audience.
CNN Political Editor Paul Steinhauser contributed to this story
From CNN Politics
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"boor" It's late.
BIDEN= RUDE
Funny because CNN's poll on their main page shows Biden with 65%. ABC also shows Biden winning by a long shot. CBS has Biden winning by 51% to Ryan's 31%. This has to be a misprint. CNN is also bad to jump the gun on things in a hurry to be the first one out with data. Of course Fox doesn't have a poll, but their reporters are always in favor of the republican party.
CNN (FOXlite) is disappointed that there was no Biden gaffe to talk about. So they discuss eye rolling. ???
CNN – Fifth grade news
Biden-Hands down. Plus his facial expressions and smiles as Ryan's nose grew longer with each lie were a hoot!
where did you get your numbers? Biden "schooled" Ryan tonight.
Ryan won hands down. He stuck to the facts and stay on task even while Biden was being rude and interupting. I felt Biden was attacking the whole time. Ryan had facts and numbers.I can not imagine what is like at the Senate when you have people like Biden trying to talk over people. No wonder why nothing has gotten done the past four years. Ryan was more VP like Biden was more childish and imature. I can not belive that some people think obortion takes presidence over our National security and the Economy!!!
Cnn needs to be fact checked.
CNN I have been a devoted fan of u network for years as an Indepent enjoyed ur fairness to both sides both Rep and Dem..but 4 some reason this election u have turned towards Rep preference..don't believe me watch ur own tapes.I want to see both sides equally but ur now about 75% Rep views what happened money talks are u getting a kick back .think I will find something more fair in the future so disappointed ..I am now turning towards the Dem side
Biden is a clown. Proved it again tonight.
For those who thought Biden won... I guess you prefer blowhards that make idiotic gaffs and will believe anything they say despite facts.
Biden won by a long shot! This poll is way off.
I was very put off by Biden's constant sighing and interruptions. How could you think he won?
Biden whipped him. Were we watching the same debate?
Biden was the clear winner of this debate. What debate were you watching?
Really? Are you kidding me? Who purchased your network, Rupert Murdoch?
Biden was overcompensating for Obama's lifeless performance in 1st debate.He was rude,and disrespectful.By the way Mr.VP,Syria is not 5 times bigger than Libya .Biden absurdly wrong "syria five times bigger than libya" FACTS libya 679,362 square miles- syria 71, 500 biden totally wrong.
Ryan was polite, professional, thoughtful, and informed. Biden interrupted, yelled, and bullied his way through the debate. And those facial expressions and weird grins of Biden's - ugh. One heartbeat away ... truly frightening.
Funny how the Republicans say Biden was rude and interrupted often, go back and watch last weeks debate and tell me the same about Romney? He did nothing but interrupt, go over his time limit, and try to speak over President Obama.
Ryan looked calm cool and collected, Biden looked like a deranged little league parent yelling at the umpire: "no!! you're lying! what!? (forced laughter) wrong wrong wrong!!"
And of course Ryan still executed his arguments perfectly and put Biden in his place with a few choice lines, much to the otherwise silent crowd's enjoyment.
Biden was rude to say the least.
Biden looked like an idiot: always laughed and smiled, broke answers Ryan. In addition, Biden engaged demagoguery and lied: he said he voted against the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. This is a lie – Biden voted for the conduct of these wars.
mr Biden is talk show not vice president
Biden won!!! CNN stop leaning republican leave that to Fox
Biden looked unhinged. Smirking. Smiling. Laughing at inappropriate times. Biden reminded me of Col Jessup in A Few Good Men, smiling while getting grilled by Lt. Caffee. I kind of wish Ryan would have asked Biden, "You think this (debt, unemployment, war, Libya coverup, etc) is funny?