Poll Watch: CNN/ORC 2012 Presidential Debate Survey

CNN/ORC 2012 Presidential Debate Poll

Regardless of which candidate you happen to support, who do you think did the best job in the debate -- Barack Obama or Mitt Romney?

• Barack Obama 46% (25%) 
• Mitt Romney 39% (67%)

Did Barack Obama do a better or worse job than you expected?

• Better 73% (21%)
• Worse 10% (61%)

Did Mitt Romney do a better or worse job than you expected?

• Better 37% (82%)
• Worse 28% (10%)

Next, regardless of which presidential candidate you support, please tell me if you think Barack Obama or Mitt Romney would better handle each of the following issues:

The economy in general

• Mitt Romney 58% (55%)
• Barack Obama 40% (43%)

Health care

• Mitt Romney 49% (52%)
• Barack Obama 46% (47%)

Taxes

• Mitt Romney 51% (53%)
• Barack Obama 44% (44%)

The federal budget deficit

• Mitt Romney 59% (57%)
• Barack Obama 36% (41%)

Foreign policy

• Barack Obama 49%
• Mitt Romney 47%

Thinking about the following characteristics and qualities, please say whether you think each one better described Barack Obama or Mitt Romney during tonight’s debate.

Spent more time attacking his opponent

• Barack Obama 49% (30%)
• Mitt Romney 35% (53%)

Seemed to be the stronger leader

• Mitt Romney 49% (58%)
• Barack Obama 46% (37%)

Was more likeable

• Barack Obama 47% (45%)
• Mitt Romney 41% (46%)

Seemed to care more about the needs and problems of the audience members who asked questions

• Barack Obama 44%
• Mitt Romney 40%

Answered the questions more directly

• Mitt Romney 45%
• Barack Obama 43%

In his remarks tonight, do you think Barack Obama did or did not offer a clear plan for solving the country's problems?

• Did 38%
• Did not 61%

In his remarks tonight, do you think Mitt Romney did or did not offer a clear plan for solving the country's problems?

• Did 49%
• Did not 50%

Overall, did tonight's debate make you more likely to vote for Barack Obama or more likely to vote for Mitt Romney, or did tonight's debate not affect how you are likely to vote?

• More likely to vote for Romney 25% (35%)
• More likely to vote for Obama 25% (18%)
• No effect on vote 48% (47%)

Survey of 457 registered voters who watched the second presidential debate was conducted October 16, 2012. The margin of error is +/- 4.5 percentage points. Party ID: 33% Democrat; 33% Republican; 33% Independent.  Results from the poll conducted October 3, 2012 after the first presidential debate are in parentheses.