Gore gets slight edge in debate performance poll
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- After the first presidential debate of the fall campaign, a CNN/USA Today/Gallup poll indicates a slight plurality of voters thought Vice President Al Gore did a better job than Texas Gov. George W. Bush -- but the debate appears to have had little effect on voter support.
Interviews with 435 voters who watched Tuesday night's debate revealed that 48 percent felt Gore did the best job in the debate, while 41 percent felt Bush performed best.
The survey was of registered voters, not the more tightly screened likely voters of the CNN/USA Today/Gallup daily tracking poll, and had a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percent. All interviews were conducted after the debate concluded at 10:30 p.m. EDT.
Large majorities of voters in the poll thought the debate performances of both candidates were "excellent" or "good." And more voters than not felt more confident in both candidates' ability to lead the nation. Notably, however, fully 96 percent of those surveyed said "No" to the question: "Did the debate make you switch your vote?"
Tuesday's CNN/USA Today/Gallup tracking poll indicated a neck-and-neck race going into tonight's campaign contest, with the Democratic and Republican rivals locked in the tightest presidential race in two decades. In the poll, Gore had 46 percent and Bush had 44 percent.
CNN/USA TODAY/GALLUP POLL
October 3
Who Did the Best Job
In the Debate?
Gore 48%
Bush 41
Sampling error: +/-4% pts
CNN/USA TODAY/GALLUP POLL
October 3
How Did Bush Do?
Excellent 20%
Good 50
Only fair 27
Poor 3
Sampling error: +/-4% pts
CNN/USA TODAY/GALLUP POLL
October 3
How Did Gore Do?
Excellent 25%
Good 51
Only fair 20
Poor 4
Sampling error: +/-4% pts
CNN/USA TODAY/GALLUP POLL
October 3
Effect of Debate on
Your Opinion of Bush
More favorable 34%
Less favorable 14
No effect 52
Sampling error: +/-4% pts
CNN/USA TODAY/GALLUP POLL
October 3
Effect of Debate on
Your Opinion of Gore
More favorable 27%
Less favorable 18
No effect 55
Sampling error: +/-4% pts
CNN/USA TODAY/GALLUP POLL
October 3
Did the Debate Make You
Switch Your Vote?
Yes 3%
No 96
Sampling error: +/-4% pts
CNN/USA TODAY/GALLUP POLL
October 3
Confidence in Bush's
Ability to Handle the Presidency
More confident 40%
Less confident 20
No change 38
Sampling error: +/-4% pts
CNN/USA TODAY/GALLUP POLL
October 3
Confidence in Gore's
Ability to Handle the Presidency
More confident 35%
Less confident 15
No change 50
Sampling error: +/-4% pts
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