InsiderAdvantage/Poll Position flash poll shows undecided voters evenly split over debate
By Tom Baxter
Southern Political Report
September 26, 2008 — Oxford, Miss. – An InsiderAdvantage/Poll Position national flash poll conducted for the Memphis Commercial-Appeal after Friday night’s first presidential debate indicates it did little to change the balance in a race which appears to be a dead heat. Opinions on who won the debate split almost evenly: 42 percent said they thought Barack Obama won the debate, 41 percent thought John McCain prevailed, and 17 percent were undecided. The poll of 411 registered voters has a margin of error of plus or minus five percent. The results were weighted by age, race, gender and political affiliation. That undecided 17 percent could be the key to an election in which both McCain and Obama must expand their base to win. Independent voters split 42% each. "Younger voters leaned McCain; 65 and over leaned Obama--against conventional wisdom. But remember, these are undecided voters who don't fall into normal patterns. Females favored Obama 43%-39% (any amounts left over are undecideds). Men favored McCain 43% to 39%. African Americans overwhelmingly broke for Obama," said InsiderAdvantage CEO Matt Towery.
The debate, moderated by PBS newsman Jim Lehrer, was devoted to foreign affairs, but began with a discussion of the proposed Treasury Department bailout. McCain had been expected to shine in a debate devoted to foreign affairs, but there was suspense until hours before the debate over whether he’d show up, due to his call the day before to delay the debate in order to work on the bailout plan. |
