Debate’s "Live Polling" Results & The Latest ABC National Poll Numbers

April 17, 2008

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Here are the results of ABC’s “Live Polling” session in which only undecided registered Democrats in Pennsylvania were used. The process was covered live in real time by channel 6 ABC in the jeystone state of PA and managed to produce some interesting results. It also needs to be noted that a lot of the numbers are somewhat a reflection of how much uninterrupted time either candidate had or took in giving their answer, as the chart tends to float upward gradually. Most of the 60s are shorter answers. Each set of numbers were the percentages of “undecideds” agreement level with each candidates answer the specific question which is listed before the respected results:

–Candidates Answer: “Bitter Comments”

Obama: 67
Clinton: 69

–Candidates Answer: “Rev. Wright Controversy”

Obama: 68
Clinton: 69

*Their Rebuttals*

Obama: Low of 47, high of 67
Clinton: 61

–Candidate Answer” “Hillary’s Electability”

Clinton: Low of 38, high of 51
Obama: 77

–Candidate’s Answer: “Obama’s Electability”

Clinton: 72
Obama: 75
Clinton: 65 (in response)

–Candidates Answer: “Clinton’s Credibility”

Clinton: Low of 38, high of 51
Obama: 77

–Candidate’s Answer: “Bringing Our Troops Home Immediately”

Clinton: 74
Clinton (on further questioning): 79
Obama: 72
Obama (on further questioning): 68

–Candidate’s Answer: “Raising Taxes”

McCain (via tape): 48
Clinton: 78
Obama: 76

–Candidates Answer: “Affirmative Action”

Obama: 66
Clinton: 79

–Candidates Answer: “Gas Prices”

Clinton: 80+
Obama: 71

–Candidates Answer: “Using George W. Bush in Their Administration”

Clinton: 68
Obama: 71

Currently ABC is running an ongoing viewer “who won the debate” survey which is still “live” even though the debate has been completed. You can make your selection here, and below are the results as of 9:35 cst:

While many appear to be voting in favor of Sen. Barack Obama, one could wonder if it’s simply because of the utter bias shown by ABC’s moderators Charles Gibson and George Stephanopoulos, who seemed too bring up all of Obama’s controversies (Wright, “bitter-gate”, connection with former member of the “weathermen”, flag pin on his lapel, etc) yet forgoing any questioning to Clinton on her “controversy’s” (such as Nafta and Columbia scandals, ongoing Peter and Paul trial in CA, etc) which not mentioned at all. She was asked about her Bosnia lie at the very beginning however it was not followed up in the slightest, while the two moderators kept interrupting Obama’s answers and seemingly debated him without even allotting him the time to finish what he was in mis statement trying to get across.

In the post debate coverage Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell, Clinton’s biggest and most important supporter in PA, how he thought the debate went, and who won. Rendell replied that he though it was garbage (I am paraphrasing here) and that ABC really dropped the ball, and then went on to say that he thought Clinton was far and away the night victor.

Also, ABC released their their latest poll which pretty much tells you the results in its title; Obama Surges in Electability. Where they write that Barack Obama has knocked down one of the three tent poles of Hillary Clinton’s campaign for president, surging ahead of her as the candidate Democrats see as most likely to win in November. He’s challenging her on leadership as well, leaving only experience as a clear Clinton advantage in the latest ABC News/Washington Post poll. Here are some of the more interesting graphs and results coming out of this release (click on the images to enlarge them):

Best Chance to Win in November

Clinton: Honest and Trustworthy?

Support for the Other Democrat

Individual Democratic Candidate Attributes

And in closing I just want to mention that one of the biggest ongoing worries for many Democratic party officials is that any defections of disenchanted Democrats whose candidate fails to grab the nomination (in this case thats looking like Hillary) to McCain. It is without a doubt a concern of both Democratic nominees, and is a balance worth watching.

One a positive note, there’s also the possibility of GOP crossover: 14% of Republicans say they’d vote for Obama if he’s the nominee; fewer (7%), say they’d cross over for Clinton. Whats that mean? Nothing right now, we still need to wrap this never ending primary up, so until then all of this is neat to look at, but mostly meaningless overall.