Seventy-seven percent (77%) of voters nationwide say John McCain’s call for a series of ten Town Hall debates is a good idea. A Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey found that just 11% disagree and 12% are not sure.

McCain has proposed that the candidates meet once a week in ten different cities around the country. The two men would answer questions from private citizens instead of reporters. Obama’s home town newspaper has endorsed the concept as well. The Chicago Sun-Times wrote “forget about holding 10. Do 20 -- or more -- and get going.” Ninety percent (90%) of Republicans support McCain’s debate proposal along with 66% of Democrats and 80% of unaffiliated voters.

The poll also found that 60% believe the “town hall” format is the best approach. Twenty-two percent (22%) said they would prefer direct debates between McCain and Obama with nobody else asking questions. Just 11% believe the traditional format—with reporters asking questions—is the best. That may be due to the fact that voters do not see reporters as neutral observers and moderators. A recent survey found that 68% of voters believe most reporters try to help the candidate they want to win. Just 17% see most reporters as objective.

Fifty-five percent (55%) say it’s better to have “a lot” of debates while 36% would prefer “just a couple.” Democrats are fairly evenly divided on this question. Republicans and unaffiliated voters favor “a lot” of debates by a two-to-one margin.

Thirty-seven percent (37%) say that Presidential debates are Very Important to their voting decision. Another 40% say they are Somewhat Important. Four years ago, after a debate in which President Bush did poorly, his overall level of support from voters was unchanged. But, the number of Republicans who said debates were important fell sharply. This year, the debates are likely to have a bigger impact because the candidates are not as well known. In fact, 30% of all voters either have no preference at this time or could change their vote before Election Day.

With so many swayable voters, a large number of town hall debates would provide opportunities and challenges for both candidates. The Sun-Times editorial recognized this reality and said, “That's what we like about the format, the risk posed for the candidates, who still will be prepped within an inch of their lives.

Who knows, perhaps we'll get a glimpse of a real human being, if only for a moment.”

Forty-four percent (44%) of voters believe that Barack Obama would emerge as the winner of the debates while 28% say that John McCain would be the winner. Twenty-seven percent (27%) are not sure.

Since wrapping up the Democratic Presidential Nomination, Obama has enjoyed a nice bounce in the polls to give him a lead nationally in the Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll.

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