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Viking12

(6,012 posts) Fri Oct 12, 2012, 01:53 PM Oct 2012

VP Debate Snap Polls: Know your Sample

The media (and some here on DU) have been comparing and conflating polls from last night's debate. The polls ARE NOT directly comparable.

The CBS poll sampled uncommitted voters.

Of the 431 polled immediately following the debate, 50% declared Biden the winner, 31 percent deemed Ryan the winner, and 19 percent said they felt it was a tie.

"Both Biden and Ryan gained ground on relatability and knowledge. The percentage of voters who say they believe they can relate to Biden spiked from 34 percent before the debate to 55 percent; 48 percent think Ryan is relatable, up from 31 percent before the debate. Meanwhile, after watching the two candidates debate, 85 percent of those polled think Biden is knowledgeable about the issues; 75 percent say that about Ryan.

Ryan, though, faced a loss among voters' opinions of which candidate would be an effective president, if necessary. Before the debate, he led Biden 45 percent to 39 percent; after the debate, 56 percent of those polled said Biden would be an effective president, with fewer - 49 percent--saying the same about Ryan."

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-250_162-57531059/poll-biden-takes-debate-over-ryan-uncommitted-voters-say/

Meanwhile, the oft-cited CNN poll sampled 381 registered voters who watched the debate. Assuming that the sample is like the rest of the voting population, most viewers have already made up their minds and simply chose the winner debate that reflected their prior choice of candidate.

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VP Debate Snap Polls: Know your Sample (Original Post) Viking12 Oct 2012 OP

This is an important point. redqueen Oct 2012 #1

redqueen

(115,103 posts)

1. This is an important point.

Reply to Viking12 (Original post)

Fri Oct 12, 2012, 02:40 PM

Oct 2012

Thanks for making it.

K&R

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