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Voters Say Second Debate Was a Tie
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Voters have decided that the second Presidential debate was a tie.

A Rasmussen Reports survey of 1,000 Likely Voters conducted Saturday afternoon found that 41% believe John Kerry "won" Friday night's debate while 40% disagree and think George Bush emerged victorious. The survey's margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% Level of Confidence.

Bush voters, by a 79% to 2% margin, say that their man won. Kerry voters, by an 85% to 2% said the same about their candidate. This is in contrast to the first debate where voters initially declared Kerry the victor by a double digit margin. The perception that Kerry won the first debate grew over time.

Still, regardless of who they want to win, 53% of those surveyed believe George W. Bush will be re-elected. That's unchanged from the survey completed after the first debate.

Eighty-nine percent (89%) of Bush voters still expect their man to win. Sixty-four percent (64%) of Kerry voters think the Democrats will win.

Four percent (4%) of voters say the second debate changed their mind about how they will vote this November. Voters who say they changed their mind are equally divided between the candidates.

Sixty-one percent (61%) of Kerry voters now say that Presidential Debates are very important. Only 24% of Bush voters share that view.

At the other extreme, 30% of Bush voters say the debates are not very important or not at all important. Only 8% of Kerry voters share that view.

Rasmussen Reports is an electronic publishing firm specializing in the collection, publication, and distribution of public opinion polling information.

The Rasmussen Reports ElectionEdge™ Premium Service for Election 2008 offers the most comprehensive public opinion coverage ever provided for a Presidential election.

Scott Rasmussen, president of Rasmussen Reports, has been an independent pollster for more than a decade.

Who did better in last night's Presidential debate?

Bush

40%

Kerry

41%

RasmussenReports.com

Who Will Win the Election in November?

Bush

53%

Kerry

31%

RasmussenReports.com

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