The real results to that question won’t be known for awhile (if ever). But overnight results are in.
CBS: 50% of uncommitted voters gave it to Vice President Joe Biden and 31% said Rep. Paul Ryan won. (19% said it was a tie.) “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.”
CNN: Among voters, it went 48% Ryan, 44% Biden, (within the margin of error). “Seven in ten said Biden was seen as spending more time attacking his opponent, and that may be a contributing factor in Ryan’s 53%-43% advantage on being more likable. Ryan also had a slight advantage on being more in touch with the problems of average Americans.”
What does it mean? Well, not a whole lot. But satirist Andy Borowitz of the New Yorker had one faux pollster’s take: “In a poll of Democratic voters taken immediately following Thursday night’s Vice-Presidential debate, a wide majority said they wanted Vice-President Joe Biden to appear in all remaining 2012 debates.”
— John Robinson