CTV.ca | Post-debate polling favours Obama over McCain

Republican U.S. Presidential Candidate Sen. John McCain speaks as Democratic U.S. Presidential Candidate Sen. Barack Obama listens during a debate at Belmont University in Nashville, Tenn., on Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2008. (AP / J. Scott Applewhite)

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Democratic U.S. Presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., answers a question as Republican Candidate Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., listens during a debate at Belmont University in Nashville, Tenn., on Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2008. (AP / Charles Dharapak)

Post-debate polling favours Obama over McCain

Updated Wed. Oct. 8 2008 4:22 PM ET

The Associated Press

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- John McCain dismissively called rival Barack Obama "that one," Obama mocked McCain's "Straight Talk Express," and both left the debate stage to return to the campaign trail Wednesday.

CNN's national poll of debate watchers found that 54 per cent said Obama did the best job, compared to 30 per cent who said McCain performed better. While 51 per cent of those polled said they had a favourable opinion of McCain, unchanged from before the debate started, 64 per cent said they had a favourable opinion of Obama, up 4 percentage points from before the debate.

By more than a 2-1 margin, 65 per cent to 28 per cent, more people said they found Obama more likable than McCain during the debate, according to the CNN/Opinion Research Corp. survey.

On the question of who won the debate, a CBS News/Knowledge Networks poll of uncommitted voters found a similar result. Forty per cent said Obama won, 26 per cent said McCain won, and 34 per cent thought it was a tie.

Playing off the second debate, the Obama campaign released a TV ad Wednesday that continued the criticism that McCain's health care plan included taxing employer-based health care benefits. "Instead of fixing health care, he wants to tax it," the ad says.

McCain's campaign, in turn, put out a TV spot contending that Obama promises nearly $1 trillion in new spending in the wake of the $700 billion financial rescue plan Congress approved. "Sound crazy? the ad asks. "It is."

It took just eight minutes into Tuesday's presidential debate for Republican candidate McCain to land the first blow, blaming Obama and Democrats for the collapse of mortgage giants Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae.

"They're the ones that, with the encouragement of Sen. Obama and his cronies and his friends in Washington, that went out and made all these risky loans, gave them to people that could never afford to pay back," McCain said.

Obama responded: "I've got to correct a little bit of Sen. McCain's history, not surprisingly. ... In fact, Sen. McCain's campaign chairman's firm was a lobbyist on behalf of Fannie Mae, not me."

McCain campaign manager Rick Davis has a stake in a Washington lobbying firm that received thousands of dollars a month from Freddie Mac until recently.

Davis is one of the many figures in both campaigns and near them who have been targeted as reasons why each should not be supported. As they head back on the road Wednesday, both campaigns say those associations would again be highlighted.

McCain running mate Sarah Palin has questioned Obama's ties to William Ayers, who 40 years ago was a member of the Weather Underground, a radical group that claimed responsibility for a series of bombings. Obama had a limited relationship with Ayers, who lives in the same neighborhood and teaches at the University of Illinois at Chicago.

Democrats have criticized McCain for his role in a 1980s banking scandal. He was one of five senators who had accepted contributions from Charles Keating Jr., a real estate speculator and savings and loan owner. Keating's institution failed and cost many investors in uninsured financial products their life savings.

Neither figure came up during Tuesday's debate. Nor did either candidate call the other a liar, a familiar charge in this contentious campaign.

The closest: "You know, Sen. McCain, I think the Straight Talk Express lost a wheel on that one," Obama said.

During a discussion of an energy bill McCain offered up a two-word phrase that drew a quick reaction from the Obama campaign.

"You know who voted for it? You might never know. That one," McCain said, pointing at his opponent.

Obama campaign manager David Plouffe said after the debate, "John McCain was all over the map on the issues, and he is so angry about the state of his campaign that he referred to Barack Obama as 'that one' -- last time he couldn't look at Sen. Obama, this time he couldn't say his name."

McCain also suggested some evasiveness on Obama's part: "Nailing down Sen. Obama's various tax proposals is like nailing Jell-O to the wall. There has been five or six of them and if you wait long enough, there will probably be another one."

In one pointed confrontation on foreign policy, Obama bluntly challenged McCain's steadiness. "This is a guy who sang 'bomb, bomb, bomb Iran,' who called for the annihilation of North Korea -- that I don't think is an example of speaking softly."

That came in response to McCain's accusation that Obama had threatened to invade Pakistan.

McCain said his rival "was wrong about Iraq and the surge. He was wrong about Russia when they committed aggression against Georgia. And in his short career he does not understand our national security challenges. We don't have time for on-the-job training."

Obama countered with a trace of sarcasm that he didn't understand some things -- like how the United States could face the challenge it does in Afghanistan after spending years and hundreds of billions of dollars in Iraq.

Please Add Comments( )

Paul Vancouver Island

In watching about an hour of the Town Hall type debate televised out of Tennesse, I was amazed how angry John McCain was; likely with his own campaign than anything. McCain showed the frustration he must be feeling.

To add a Canadian element into this discussion, McCain is the same fellow in the US who says the "fundamentals of the economy are strong." Do these words sound familiar by someone of the same political persuasion in Canada with the initials SH?

Red X

Obama was the more calmer of the two. Last week, Palin gave the answers that she memorized despite the questions. That is why Biden won that one. The Electoral College Vote is the polling we should watch.

MHB

Go Obama Go!. Our happiness with the hope that his election would bring will be doubled if also our Cons, the allies of GWB, loose the majority they are hoping for here in Canada. The world needs new people with new approaches and the conservatives time on both sides of the borders is already over!.

Ernie form Pritchard

I think John McCains time has past and Palins time has not yet come. McCain is a warrior not a comander in chief. The Time has Come for Barack Obama

The liberal media cannot be trusted.

Poll's can't be trusted. The liberal media skewers the numbers in order to try to sway voters.
...

Phil

It's a sad day when the US is a superior democracy to Canada because
1. their leaders adhere to fixed election date laws
2. their leaders debate repeatedly throughout the campaign
3. their leaders release platforms more than one week before the election.

Canadians who say Harper is as bad as the Americans are wrong...he's WORSE!

Chuck

Was McCains reference to Obama as "that one" a take off of the SNL skit where the fake Biden said "I am better than that" where "that" was the fake Sarah Palin. If so, then give him credit for a sense of humour - but the joke went flat since nobody laughed.

James

This thing would be over if it was in Canada, and we would have selected Obama by a largest majority possible. He is the leader US needs, McCain's "That one" comment sounded downright angry, disrespectful and racists in a way. He is no leader and Americans should realize that and put all the color thing behind them and select a good leader this time around.

Niagara George

It didn't take many minutes of watching to realize Obama was in control of the debate.

What did surprise me was that neither candidate was any better at presenting their views, than our our party leaders. I would have thought that the best out of 300 million would be better than the best out of 35 million.

Red X mentions the Electoral College. Will the USA ever decide that each person should have an equal vote? Presently, a vote in the mid-west counts the same as a vote and a half in the east. Not an apprpriate system for the nation that is 'bringing democracy to the world.'

Alberta Believer

"To add a Canadian element into this discussion, McCain is the same fellow in the US who says the "fundamentals of the economy are strong." Do these words sound familiar by someone of the same political persuasion in Canada with the initials SH?"

Paul, the reason why Stephen Harper can say that with confidence is because in Canada unlike in the US there are no federal laws mandating banks to lend money to RISKY low income and minority communities to buy homes, loans that the recipients have no chance of repaying. (RE: the Community Reinvestment Act) The Canadian lending institutions, banks and housing industry aren't going to come crashing down around us.

When you goto get a loan from a bank here in Canada that bank, should it choose to loan you the money takes a security interest in the assets that you own and then perfects that interest. No assets, no loan. In order to engage in its "feel good but stupid" policy the Americans were giving what's called NINJA loans, loans to people in some cases. These are people with no income, no job, no assets!

Paul I know you to be a popular socialist on these boards, perhaps you'd like to see a similar program instituted here in Canada? After all look how well it's worked out in America.LOL

Michelle

I couldn't get over McCain thinking that it would be a good idea to buy the mortgages off of people who are threatened with foreclosure, then selling them back at current market rates. Can you imagine how that will sit with the ordinary American who worked hard, was careful not to buy a home that was more expensive than he can really afford, and that guy gets stuck still paying the old value of his mortgage while his dumb, irresponsible neighbour who overextended himself on credit gets a break from the government. Reward the rich, reward the dumb, and screw the responsible guy in the middle.

Mark

The debate last evening put to shame our federal election debate. No shouting, no cutting off, no name calling. Too bad we Canadians can't learn from the Americans. By the way, when is Sarah Palin holding her first press news conference? Is the maverick really living under a bubble?

Jonathan

What makes Obama a great leader? Give me 5 things?

Humble Servant

Obama may have some idea's, but they're nothing more than old idea's wrapped up, packaged and presented in a different new wrapper.

I think McCain has a better understanding with better idea's to take the US through this difficult time.

One thing I fear may happen if Obama becomes President, is the removal of US troops from abroad, leaving Israel unguarded and vulnerable.

This will no doubt in my mind force Israel to send a pre-emptive strike into Iran to take out their Nuclear capability, which I fear will draw Russia, Syria and other Arab nations into coming down from the North and attacking Israel.

This is a scenario that is quite likely to happen, especially if US troops and their defence spending is significally withdrawn.

Vancouver Joe

McCain just sounds angry at this point. He is losing and he knows it. His choices all along have been erratic and self centered.

I vote PC in Canada but wish that we had a leader that was half as inspiring as Obama. In fairness, I do think our 5 part debates are idiotic, it all comes across like a bunch of school kids arguing about everything.

Mark

As a dual citizen, I'm hoping for an Obama win in the States, because I believe the Republicans are raving lunatics. But I still like Mr. Harper on this side, and can't understand how you can compare him to Bush and McCain. His policies are far more moderate. In fact, his professorial style and personality remind me a bit of Obama.

Paul in Ottawa

A lot of these polls have been over sampling Democrats and under sampling Republicans. The results might turn out a little different then the DNC expects, and if they do, man will they ever blow their top.

island girl

I am concerned about McCain's tendency to solve problems with war rather than negotiation. There is a time and a place but war should always be a last resort.

Paul Vancouver Island

To Alberta Believer, I'm glad you acknowledge that Harper does in fact parrot McCain and McCains's deregulated free market philosophy that got the USA into such an economic mess.

Fortunately it was the small "l" liberal philosophy in Canada that Canada's banking system is as good as it gets around the world. It was the Liberal Party that resisted deregulating the banks like they did under George W. Bush and his conservative Republicans in the USA.

Glad to see Conservatives in Canada are finally coming around to see the benefits of good sound regulation (not unecessary or complicated regulation, but well thought-out regulation).

Keith in Calgary

McCain's real problem seems to be that he is seemingly up against destiny. In the American media aside from Fox News Obama can do no wrong.

On our side of the border how can the Liberals seriously say that Harper is the reason for all of the ills now facing the economy? Little has changed aside from small cuts to the GST on the economic side and I hardly call our mission to Afghanistan warmongering! The Michael Moore fanatics may see that but it's sad that political pressure may see us out of that country before THEY want us to leave.

Mutt from Windsor

O Goodie: A socialist president and an out of control Congress and Senate. Our US cousins are about to be hit with Canadian (Liberal)style taxes and (NDP)socialism. We are watching the slow death of common sense and end of Capitalism. When all three believe that the American people are "entitled" rather than earned, the greatest free market in the world is at risk. God Save America

bunny

It strikes me funny, that it is a good thing, that Obama remained calm, but when harper does that.it's seen as a bad thing.

John

Credit Default Swaps.
Commodity Futures Modernization Act of 2000. Lobbyists.
Campaign Contributors Lists.
Find out what these things mean; follow the trail. It is better than a book or movie. It will be the best 15 minutes you've spent today.

A US townhall debate where the participants could not even respond to the accusations? Give me a break... By comparison the altered Canadian debates format finally got it right this year.

5 quick reasons

Five things make Obama a great leader? Here are my five:

1. He is extremely intelligent and articulate, yet able to communicate his ideas in a simple and direct fashion.

2. He has a very calm, level-headed approach, without a knee-jerk response towards confrontation and patronization.

3. He is incredibly well informed about the world (Did you know Iran can't make gasoline? Here was a concrete point I'd never heard regarding a strategy he has to deal with them).

4. He recognizes the key challenges facing the US: energy, and the fact that the rest of the world has develop such great disdain for them that they can't get anything meaningful accomplished on a world stage anymore.

5. He is clearly the most inspiring leader to come out of the US in a long time. You conservatives can scoff and call him an empty celebrity all you want -- he is energizing millions of people. Jealous much, GOP?

Some of you may belittle him because he's "liberal" (whatever that means) or for other reasons that you won't admit on a public forum, but those are just a few of the reasons people are willing to take a chance on him.

Gail (Hamilton)

When you hear the Dems (James Carville) saying that with a five point lead if Obama loses, there will be riots, the US election has become all about race/bigotry. It shows a racial fear factor being touted by the Democrats in order to win. You can't criticize Obama, the media darling, on his associates, his policies, his record or lack thereof, etc. John McCain should have asked Joe Public a clear question "Do you want a socialist/high taxes big government under Barrack Obama, or a government for the people, by the people with a cleanup of Washington?" The choice is yours.

Bonnie

Let me get this straight! The worldwide financial meltdown was created by subprime loans by Freddie Mac & Fannie Mae. These hybrid Gov't/Public companies were run by bigtime democrats Raines & Johnston (who walked away with $150 million in commissions) who are now Obama advisors. In 2005 McCain/Bush tried to stop the Fannie/Freddie garbage home loans and 100% of the democrats voted against the bill, killing it. Obama received the 2nd highest political donations from Fannie/Freddie and yet the democrats & the main stream media are blaming this on President Bush and John McCain?? I feel like I am living in Bizzarro World.

Toast

Obama is a BOSS,

McCain is a clown, he cant even sit still, always dancing around mumbling same thing over and over again.

I recall when he got asked about social secuirty number and he said "we need to sit down at a table and discuss like Ronald Reagan did" wow thanks for narrowing it down McCain, you Bonehead..

Ernie in Pritchard

The one thing about Obama that stands out is his habbit of thinking. He takes the time to reason things out. You can almost see the gears turning. He is not just reacting. He thinks, analyzes the facts and then acts. He talks low, talks slow and says what he means.

Dem Ocracy

Its good to see the Canadian debates and the American debates running at the same time. Its very revealing how diffent our countries are. The US speak to defence, offence, potential threats, the arms race, cold wars, etc etc. The republicans constantly speak of their service in the Navy and project it constantly.

The Canadians, however speak to arts cuts, health care, the Kyoto Protocol.

If the presidential candidates values and opinions are mirrors of the voting public, then the US could be classified as a war mongering countryIf there ever was a time to observe the differences between the US and Canada it is now. .

Steve in Ottawa

This was a really dis-appointing debate. Obama did not answer any of the questions with specifics. He was vague but had a smooth delivery and a calm voice. He avoided any real decisions. McCain was little better with the answers, but not much. His delivery was not smooth, but restrained so he "lost" the debate. The fact is, neither candidate explained any solution well. The United States is in real trouble and by extension.....so is Canada.

Five Quick Corrections

Five Quick Reasons, here are my five quick corrections/counterpoints:

1) Intelligent and articulate? Maybe. I'm not going to say outright 'No.', but it's more likely he's just a good actor and well rehearsed. He's got a lot of puppet masters that decide what he should say. It was like that in Chicago, and it's very unlikely that's changed.

2) Calm demeanor doesn't imply level-headed or no knee-jerk reactions. He masks things better, which passes with the public, but will unlikely work well when squaring off against more seasoned politicians.

3) He's not at all well informed about the world. (Did you know Iran's strived to ween themselves off dependence to the US and has a strong economic trade partner in Russia that can produce gasoline? So if you want to do something to Iran, it's probably not going to be a trade embargo since it won't affect them?)

4) He recognizes the challenges... mabye. But he sure as hell doesn't know what to do about them. His solution to the energy crisis is two-fold - increased production in ethanol fuels (which ruins food production and in turn economies of nations) and to pump money into Detroit for them to produce a viable electric car (where's he getting the money from after a $700 Billion bailout?).

5) No. Just... No. I'm not sure why this is, but Obama's not getting his fair share of dirt slung at him in the media. Like the Weather Underground guy, Obama's sat on committees with him, and what about his ties and support of Chicago Machine politics? Now, this is not to say that Obama's not the better choice between him and McCain, but how would we know? There's such a pro-obama slant in the media it's ridiculous.

The truth is that Obama's platform is completely unreasonable, and a reflection of his lack of qualifications to be president. Remember in the first debate, when he was all for giving tax cut programs to the people on Main Street while punishing the people on Wall Street? But then the question came up "With the Bailout, what programs are you going to have to cut from your platform?" And Obama couldn't give a straight answer until after McCains response, and then his top three priorities were all high spending priorities, which means there's no way he'll be able to give the average joe a tax cut, and spurn the investments of large corporations which would pick up and transfer production (and jobs) to the far east sweat-shops.

"And in his short career he does not understand our national security challenges. We don't have time for on-the-job training."

Did McCain forget who his VP pick is? The seemingly barely literate Sarah Palin? You don't think she'll need some training? She didn't even know what the VP did until recently.

@Vancouver Joe

Seriously, Joe. There is nothing 'Progressive' about the Conservative party of Canada. They dropped the "progressive" bit when it was taken over by reformers and alliance members. Why? Because the word "progressive" is a bad word to these sorts of people.
Stop fooling yourself. If you are voting for them because you think they are progressive you may want to rethink that. Traditionally, conservatives do not stand for progressiveness. They stand for "more of the same" and "stay the course" type of thinking. F^$& it angers me just to type that phrase let alone here our PM utter it. I hate him for it.

B.J.

Was it just me or does it seem McCain and to a lesser extent Obama seem to talk right through Canada when they talk to about Interdepence of oil?..It's kinda like being inbetween two co -workers yelling over your head at each other!..Kinda hurts my ears!..Maybe a little disrespectful..NON!

BB in B.C.

I hope this isn't true but I think the people would vote for the best "actor". It seems to have nothing to do with politics. Who looks the coolest, combs his hair right, walks the fine line, and LIES with the straightest face wins North and South of the border.

Reece

A rate cut only works with certain financial issues and works like a stimulus package - but the problems of today are unique. You don't throw water on an oil fire. What's wrong with these people?

There's honour in resigning particularly when our future is at stake. The conservatives are blinded by ideology and are yesterdays people. The world has changed & NAFTA & globalization has made the change. You need 3-demensional thinkers in power...8 years of Bush & he's proven that he becomes paralyzed with fear during a terrorist attack & now paralyzed from a financial crises. Interest rate reduction? OHHHHH PLEEEEZE!!

Get a clue, media bashers

If people like Five Quick Corrections can't even concede that Obama is articulate and intelligent, saying it's somehow an "act", I don't see they can expect anyone can take the rest of their baseless, factless observations seriously.

And regarding all these charges of media bias, where did the Obama bashers get these smears anyway? FROM STORIES IN THE MEDIA.

Like everyone else, your opinions are formed not by some incredible intellect and laser-guided truth-seeking ability, but from reading the statements and opinions of others reproduced in the media. Don't try to pretend otherwise.

Dion - Obama

addendum

+Paul vancouver island,
Correct!

"the fundamentals of our economy are strong" Mccain sept5,08 . Harper oct 1 ,08.

What ppl dont understand is how the monetary system works. DEBT = MONEY our banks are only required to hold a small % percent of whats deposited (worse in the US) then they are free to loan how they please while in canada their are a few regulations but that doesn't make it necessarily better or safer. Money is created and owed basically out of thin AIR. Watch the brand new zeigeist 2 : addendnum film (free release oct 3, 2008) for more info on future economies.

Jim in Ottawa

To JP,
Gee I want to hear your magic answer for dealing with the current economic situation? I guess panic should be the order of the day. It is the fear raised by a liberal media that is driving this one, you offer profanity but no solutions about "staying the course" you libs are all alike lots of talk but no substance or answers!

Jaymonton from E-Town

Uh-Oh!! Let the plans for Republician vote tampering begin! I wonder how they are going to pull the wool over everyones eyes this time!?!?!?!?!

Joseph mcGurran Toronto

"The liberal media cannot be trusted.
Poll's can't be trusted. The liberal media skewers the numbers in order to try to sway voters."

correction:

The conservative media cannot be trusted.
Poll's can't be trusted. The conservative media skewers the numbers in order to try to sway voters.

Moran McMahon

I think if Americans vote for Senator Obama they will get what they deserve, and four years of it. God help America. And in the Canadian election, Canadians will get what they deserve. Most of the comments I read are written, in my view, by people who are very poorly informed about the issues. They seem to let their judgment be guided by smooth rhetoric rather than straight-forward factual information.

brenda

I thought I had heard this wrong, but Obama said, Quote "If we could have intervened effectively in the Holocaust, who among us would say that we had a moral obligation not to go in?"

Ah, Obama, we did effectively go in, moral or not...Seems to me we won the second world war...did he forget something here?

Ryan from Ontario

instead of wasting 1 trillion in Iraq they could have used 700 billion on the economy and still had 300 billon left over.
come on mc cain lets make it 3 trillion dollars debt

plail

I look forward to having Harper and Obama as leaders so that finally the US and Canada can have a civilized discussion of the issues. The knee jerk anti-Americanism of the Liberals was an embarrassment to Canada.

jph

McCain showed that he is not capable of holding a high position of office.
I will be really surprised if he gets reelected.

Obama "spanked him" good last night.

Charles-Mauryti

America wants to repair a old car when they have a chance to get a brand new one. What a gamble!!!! Look at the 2 candidates, step back and think future , your heart and mind will do the rest...

Post-debate polling favours Obama over McCain

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