Great Polls Of Fire

We mentioned that several 'insta-polls' were conducted.

Nate Silver at 538 notes a huge Obama victory:

The CBS poll of undecideds has more confirmatory detail. Obama went from a +18 on "understanding your needs and problems" before the debate to a +56 (!) afterward. And he went from a -9 on "prepared to be president" to a +21.

FoxNews' Focus Group Gives the night to Barry


CNN's Poll:

Thinking about the following characteristics and qualities, please say whether
you think each one better described Barack Obama or John McCain during tonight's
debate:

• Was more intelligent: Obama 55%, McCain 30%
• Expressed his views more clearly: Obama 53%, McCain 36%
• Spent more time attacking his opponent: McCain 60%, Obama 23%
• Was more sincere and authentic: Obama 46%, McCain 38%
• Seemed to be the stronger leader: Obama 49%, McCain 43%
• Was more likeable: Obama 61%, McCain 26%
• Was more in touch with the needs and problems of people like you: Obama 62%, McCain 32%

Politcal Wire Reports:

During and after the debate, Democracy Corps conducted focus groups among 45 undecided voters in St. Louis, Missouri.

Though these voters "had an unmistakably Republican tilt," McCain "could only manage a draw among this group.

Of our 45 initial undecided voters, a quarter moved to Obama and a quarter to McCain after the debate with the rest remaining undecided.

Moreover, by a 38 to 27 percent margin these voters said that Obama won this debate."

Videos of the focus groups and dial testing will be posted tomorrow.

Meanwhile, Marc Ambinder notes a finding from a Democratic strategist running another focus group: "Whenever Sen. McCain leaned on Obama for being naive and repeated the phrase 'Sen. Obama doesn't understand,' the tracking lines nosedived."

And, If Karl Rove Was right about this before the debate then by Super K's standard, McCain was pummelled

Mr. McCain needs to come across as optimistic, loose and likable. He must guard against revealing his lack of respect for Mr. Obama. And he must grab the "change" banner from Mr. Obama by describing a few things he'll do internationally that are new and different.