The Vice Presidential debate on Thursday night attracted a bigger television audience than the Presidential debate a week earlier, but is not likely to have much of an impact on the results of Election 2008.

Forty-five percent (45%) of voters thought Biden won the debate while 37% thought Palin emerged victorious. Fans of each campaign overwhelmingly thought their team won. Obama supporters favored Biden by an 81% to 3% margin while McCain voters declared Palin the victor 76% to 5%.

Government employees were especially impressed with Biden and declared him the winner by a 59% to 22% margin. Entrepreneurs narrowly gave the edge to Palin and retired Americans were evenly divided. Forty-four percent (44%) of those who work for someone else in the private sector named Biden the winner while 37% held the opposite view.

Middle class earners, those making between $40,000 and $100,000 annually, narrowly favored Palin as the victor. Those who earn less than $40,000 or more than $100,000 thought leaned strongly in Biden’s direction.

Voters under 40 said that Biden won, those over 65 said Palin, and those in between were evenly divided.

Following the debate, 59% had a favorable opinion of Biden while 53% said the same about Palin. Opinions about Palin remain stronger. Thirty-six percent (36%) have a Very Favorable opinion of her while 29% hold a Very Unfavorable view. For the Senator from Delaware, those numbers are 25% Very Favorable and 17% Very Unfavorable.

Despite the controversy raised about moderator Gwen Ifill’s potential conflict of interest, 73% of voters say that she played a neutral role in the debate. Fifteen percent (15%) say she tried to help Biden while 3% believed she tried to help Palin.

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