CNN Poll: Debate watchers split on who won VP debate
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
soundoff (4,842 Responses)
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What are you crazy, Biden was incorrect about foreign policy. He is our VP and did not know the truth. P. Ryan Won.
I used to think that CNN was a fair channel to watch the news, but lately they've been very biased in this presidential election.
Every where else said Joe Biden won the debate
Either way, Biden lost, he was crude, condescending and in no way acted "Vice Presidential", he interrupted and actually, Raddatz never asked him for specifics and he is Vice President. He smiled and grinned, but actually, I consider this a draw as Ryan never delivered a knockout blow or moment. Hence, Biden loses
Everybody keep saying that Biden was rude, but in reality it was a debate. Thats what it is. No one said anything when Romney did it to Obama.
I watched the entire debate, and Joe Biden definitely won the debate! I cannot believe people are complaining about Joe smiling! Paul Ryan had a wide "sick calf looking" smile on his face the whole time Joe Biden was talking, and he made such a big production of drinking his big glass of water every time it was Vice-President Biden's turn to talk. It was very annoying, and in my opinion, it was deliberately done to interrupt Biden's turn.
To all of you that said Biden was rude & disrespectful....he was just following Mitt the Twits lead from last week!!
Ryan Won- Biden was rude, unprofessional and obnoxious and arrogant, he tried too hard to make up for Obama who was weak, and it backfired on them both!!!! Our country will be better off with Romney and Ryan.
We'll isn't CNN owned by a rather conservative/RICH guy?
I thought republican's were in love w/ the idea of a VP pitbull w/ lipstick.? Now biden was rude and overbearing.
Biden doing much better than his boss doesn't mean he won. He came across as bitter and bumbling. Ryan is clearly a more polished and intelligent leader. Ryan won by a lot.
Romney/Ryan tax plan in layman's terms..."We have a plan and it will work, and that is our plan!"
I'd say that seems consistent with the debate as I saw it. Not a major blow out, but definitely slight edge to Ryan over Biden. Biden came across very obnoxious and condescending, Ryan came across more in command of the facts and with more substance. Overall I think both sides are going to like what they got out of their candidate, but I think the persuadable middle and independents will sway slightly to Ryan on this one.
Biden demolished him. No doubt about it. He changed his mind so much I could be wrong !! Lmao.! He made Ryan look like a joke begging to get elected . CNN must have been drinking .
CNN I think you are making a huge mistake on say Ryan won Poll. Take a look at your poll on home page( where you ask who faired better in the debate. Right now poll shows 65% Biden and 35% Ryan. Its sad when media can tell the truth. I know you are trying to make a race out of this. NOT!!!!! Oboma @ Biden all the way.
How can you release a poll this early? May be you should take some time and do it right so your findings are legitimate. You should slow down CNN. You always get into trouble when you don’t take your time to be factual.
This poll is not correct.....Hands down biden won!
Biden won by a landslide and Ryan looked like a lying fool.
Biden won for sure...
Really Scary!! Biden is just a heartbeat away from being president. I do not want a hot head like Biden with the ability to use nuclear weapons. By the way, the question of what would keep America in Afghanistan; anything that originates in that country that harms America or Americans is the right answer.
How about we just give first place trophies to both candidates.....so we don't hurt the feelings of either side???
Biden totally nailed it, and Ryan.
I watch the debate and the one I watched Vice President Biden won by 50 points. I have no idea what debate the people in this poll were watching.
Obvious that Ryan was more composed, respectful and thoughtful on his answers. GOP wants to move forward and allow Americans to pull ourselves up by our own bootstraps. Dems pledge they can solve the budget and deficit problem by spending more money (more foodstamps and college loans). Seems an easy choice. Reduce tax burden on those who create jobs...grow business, hire more people to full time jobs, allow middle income workers to keep more of their pay and stop the negative spiral we are in. If you want to turn it around, give another team the chance with their new plan.
LOL CNN only network that has Ryan as a winner. Biden destroyed Ryan.
joe needs to be put in a home along time ago. ryan is the real deal. are the last four year that good.if yes stay where your at now. if not.look in your heat.I voted for the team we have now.but they lost my vote.