Oct 4, 2008 5:25 pm US/Eastern
CBS4 Poll: Fla. Liked Palin, Gave Edge To Biden
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Republican Sarah Palin greets Democrat Joseph Biden on stage for their vice presidential debate October 2, 2008, at Washington University in St. Louis.
Paul Richards/Getty Images
An exclusive CBS4/SurveyUSA poll found Florida voters had mixed feelings about the Vice Presidential debate Thursday night. A majority thought Governor Sarah Palin had a strong performance, but gave the edge to Sen. Joe Biden, the Democratic candidate, when asked if there was a clear winner of the debate.
The results were part of a poll taken for WFOR and 3 other television stations. 900 Florida adults were questioned shortly after the debate, and the results are drawn from the 758 who actually watched the 90 minute debate.
The political makeup of the people who watched the debate was evenly divided. 34% of those surveyed said are Republican, 36% Democrat, and 27% identified themselves as Independent.
Of debate watchers: 35% say Palin was the clear winner. 44% say Biden was the clear winner. 21% say there was no clear winner. There was no significant difference between the responses of men and women.
Both parties were watching to see the effect the vice presidential candidates had on the voters.
Among Florida voters, 44% said their opinion of Palin went up, while 21% say their opinion of Palin went down. On the other side of the political fence, 43% say their opinion of Biden went up. 20% say their opinion of Biden went down.
The results show Florida debate watchers believed Palin was more likable, but Biden had a better command of the facts.
While the voters may have liked Palin more, they clearly believe Biden is more ready to assume the office of President, should that become necessary, the key responsibility of the Vice President. 57% felt Biden was more ready, versus 34% for Palin.
56% said that Biden makes the Democratic ticket stronger, 15% said he makes the ticket weaker, and 28% said he makes no difference. 48% said that Palin makes the Republican ticket stronger, 38% said she makes the ticket weaker, and 15% said she makes no difference.
Here are the full results of the poll:
1--Was Sarah Palin the clear winner? Was Joe Biden the clear winner? Or was there no clear winner? 35% Palin
44% Biden
21% No Clear Winner
0% Not Sure
2 --Did your opinion of Sarah Palin go up? down? Or stay the same? 44% Up
21% Down
35% Same
3--Did your opinion of Joe Biden go up? down? Or stay the same? 43% Up
20% Down
37% Same
4 --Who had a better command of the facts? 34% Palin
50% Biden
16% Not Sure
5--Who was more likeable? 51% Palin
34% Biden
15% Not Sure
6--Who appears more ready to assume the office of President, if that should become necessary? 34% Palin
57% Biden
9% Not Sure
7 --Who had the best one-liner? 48% Palin
30% Biden
21% Not Sure
8 --Does Joe Biden make the Democratic ticket stronger, weaker, or does he make no difference? 56% Stronger
15% Weaker
28% No Difference
1% Not Sure
9 --Does Sarah Palin make the Republican ticket stronger, weaker, or does she makes no difference? 48% Stronger
38% Weaker
15% No Difference
0% Not Sure
10 --Was the moderator of the debate, Gwen Ifill, fair to both candidates? Unfair to Palin? Or Unfair to Biden? 88% Fair To Both
8% Unfair To Palin
1% Unfair To Biden
3% Not Sure
11-- Would Sarah Palin be a better Vice President than Dick Cheney? Worse? Or would she be no different than Cheney? 56% Better
16% Worse
24% No Different
3% Not Sure
12 --Would Joe Biden be a better Vice President than Dick Cheney? Worse? Or would he be no different than Cheney64% Better
20% Worse
14% No Different
1% Not Sure
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