Raleigh, N.C. –
PPP’s post debate snap poll in the critical swing state of Colorado finds a
narrow victory for Barack Obama, 48/44. Perhaps more importantly independents
think that the President won by a 58/36 margin.

The debate enhanced both candidates’ images with Colorado voters. 40% now
say they have a more positive opinion of Obama than they did before the debate,
to 36% who see him less favorably. Mitt Romney actually does slightly better on
that front with 44% of voters saying they see him more positively now to 35%
with a less charitable opinion.

The debate isn’t likely to make a big difference in the state of the race in
Colorado. 37% of voters say it made them more likely to vote for Obama, 36% say
it made them more likely to vote for Romney, and 27% say it didn’t make a
difference to them either way.

Obama was overwhelmingly seen as the winner of the debate among Hispanic
voters (61/32) and lost just narrowly to Romney among whites (47/45). Obama was
seen as a narrow victor among men (48/43) and women (49/46) alike.

One interesting thing we did was break down the results based on what
channel people had watched the debate on. Predictably Fox News viewers (65/27)
overwhelmingly thought Romney won, while MSNBC watchers (71/27) believe Obama
was the winner. In addition to MSNBC, people who watched the debate on CNN,
CBS, NBC, and PBS declare Obama to have been the winner. Beyond Fox News,
voters who watched the debate on ABC, the Fox Network, and C-Span (very small
sample size on that one) think Romney was the winner.

“Time will tell whether this debate actually reversed the momentum in the
race,” said Dean Debnam, President of Public Policy Polling. “But Obama’s
victory tonight, even if it wasn’t an overwhelming one, should at least halt
Romney’s momentum and that was something he desperately needed.”

PPP surveyed 438
Colorado debate watchers on October 16th. The margin of error for the survey is
+/-4.7%.  This poll was not paid for
or authorized by any campaign or political organization. PPP surveys are
conducted through automated telephone interviews.

Topline results are below.  Full results, including crosstabs, can be found here.

Q1 Did you watch the Presidential debate tonight,
or not?
Watched the debate…………………………………100%
Did not …………………………………………………… 0%

Q2 Regardless of who you plan to vote for, who do
you think won the debate tonight?
Barack Obama………………………………………… 48%
Mitt Romney……………………………………………. 44%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 7%

Q3 Which of the candidates for President do you
think better understands people like you:
Barack Obama or Mitt Romney?
Barack Obama………………………………………… 50%
Mitt Romney……………………………………………. 50%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 1%

Q4 After watching tonight’s debate, is your opinion
of Barack Obama more positive or less positive
than it was before, or is there no difference?
More positive ………………………………………….. 40%
Less positive…………………………………………… 36%
No difference ………………………………………….. 24%

Q5 After watching tonight’s debate, is your opinion
of Mitt Romney more positive or less positive
than it was before, or is there no difference?
More positive ………………………………………….. 44%
Less positive…………………………………………… 35%
No difference ………………………………………….. 22%

Q6 Did tonight’s debate make you more likely to
vote for Barack Obama than you were before,
more likely to vote for Mitt Romney than you
were before, or did it not make a difference?
More likely to vote for Obama……………………. 37%
More likely to vote for Romney ………………….. 36%
Didn’t make a difference …………………………… 27%

Q7 What channel did you watch the debate on
tonight: CNN, C-Span, Fox News, MSNBC,
ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC, PBS, or something
else?
CNN………………………………………………………. 13%
C-Span…………………………………………………… 1%
Fox News……………………………………………….. 25%
MSNBC………………………………………………….. 12%
ABC ………………………………………………………. 15%
CBS ………………………………………………………. 9%
Fox………………………………………………………… 2%
NBC………………………………………………………. 15%
PBS ………………………………………………………. 6%
Another channel………………………………………. 0%

Q8 Would you describe yourself as very liberal,
somewhat liberal, moderate, somewhat
conservative, or very conservative?
Very liberal ……………………………………………… 10%
Somewhat liberal …………………………………….. 19%
Moderate………………………………………………… 31%
Somewhat conservative……………………………. 23%
Very conservative ……………………………………. 17%

Q9 If you are a woman, press 1. If a man, press 2.
Woman ………………………………………………….. 50%
Man……………………………………………………….. 50%

Q10 If you are a Democrat, press 1. If a Republican,
press 2. If you are an independent or identify
with another party, press 3.
Democrat ……………………………………………….. 33%
Republican……………………………………………… 36%
Independent/Other…………………………………… 31%

Q11 If you are Hispanic, press 1. If white, press 2.
If other, press 3.
Hispanic…………………………………………………. 11%
White …………………………………………………….. 81%
Other……………………………………………………… 8%

Q12 If you are 18 to 29 years old, press 1. If 30 to
45, press 2. If 46 to 65, press 3. If you are
older than 65, press 4.
18 to 29………………………………………………….. 14%
30 to 45………………………………………………….. 32%
46 to 65………………………………………………….. 37%
Older than 65………………………………………….. 17%