Rasmussen
Poll: 17% see debates as very important to how they’ll vote
Voters are attaching less significance to the outcome of tonight’s first presidential debate compared to the kick-off debate four years ago.
Eighty-seven percent (87%) of Likely U.S. Voters say they are likely to watch the presidential debates this year, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. That includes 65% who are Very Likely to watch, but that’s down nine points from 74% in September 2008.
Still, just 12% say they are not very or Not At All Likely to watch the debates this year.
Blowback
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lots of people want to sound like they are attentive to the politics. In reality about 12% will watch.
astonerii on October 3, 2012 at 1:03 PM
I’ll probably just follow the commentary at HA. Does that count as not watching it?
22044 on October 3, 2012 at 1:04 PM
No.
I -might- watch, simply because Weds is the worst night of television.
lorien1973 on October 3, 2012 at 1:06 PM
Poll: 17% see debates as very important to how they’ll vote
And most of these people consider it a successful day if they
were able to brush their teeth. What a bunch of dumbazzes.
ToddPA on October 3, 2012 at 1:06 PM
17% is probably about right.
Partisans have already made up their minds, many “independents” are leaners one way or the other.
I’m voting Romney no matter what – so I’m only interested in the debates insofar as they persuade the persuadable.
DRayRaven on October 3, 2012 at 1:07 PM
I think I saw a poll recently where one of the questions was “Will you watch the debates?” and like 95% of people said yes.
Also, in sort of related news, Gallup is still Registered Voters and is back to Obama +4%.
strictnein on October 3, 2012 at 1:13 PM
38.4%
my bad, it is higher than 12%, but much lower than the top poll tested number.
astonerii on October 3, 2012 at 1:18 PM
I’m probably gonna follow y’all’s commentary on my iPhone while watching my son’s football game.
But my take on it is this: If Romney does well, as I am hoping he is, it could reassure hesitant independents who already don’t like 0bama that Romney is an acceptable alternative. Also, it could be the excuse polling orgs need to switch from polling in order to drive an inevitability narrative to ones more predictive of the election. If 0bama fails to move the needle tonight, I foresee a lot of pollsters deciding that propping the Democrats up is not worth being listed as inaccurate pollsters.
Sekhmet on October 3, 2012 at 1:18 PM
If we could pump ether into the debate platform, I would love to watch Obama go off teleprompter.
Oil Can on October 3, 2012 at 1:20 PM
The remaining 83 percent see debate as essential to fishing.
viking01 on October 3, 2012 at 1:20 PM
17% are still deciding?
But I’ve been told that there are virtually no undecided voters and Romney should just quit an go home.
forest on October 3, 2012 at 1:22 PM
Almost 1 out of 5 voters.
Not an insignificant group, given who tight it ends up on the home stretch.
Good Lt on October 3, 2012 at 1:22 PM
*how
Good Lt on October 3, 2012 at 1:23 PM
You could probably cut that number in half.
MeatHeadinCA on October 3, 2012 at 1:31 PM
Most people have their minds made up. The debates are pretty much irrelevant.
rickv404 on October 3, 2012 at 1:38 PM
Disagree.
One thing that unites the country is that most people recognize it is FUBAR’d.
Some people think this is inevitable so we might as well stick with the Dogeater. Others think it is inevitable but we might as well try someone who at least has a resume.
There’s a lot of soft ground in this, no matter what the polls say.
A series of very strong or weak debate appearances could swing the result hard in one direction or another.
CorporatePiggy on October 3, 2012 at 2:05 PM
If Rasmussen party I’D poll for Sept is accurate Romney wins big
m.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/archive/mood_of_america_archive/partisan_trends/summary_of_party_affiliation
jp on October 3, 2012 at 2:09 PM