Results from the Citizens Media Scorecard for October 15th.

Sen. John McCain and Sen. Barack Obama

• Tuesday, Oct. 15 at Hofstra University
• Moderated by Bob Schieffer

1. Rate the debate's focus on the issues. Were questions by moderator Bob Schieffer focused on serious and relevant concerns?

McCain Supporters
Extremely -- 56%
Somewhat -- 44%
Not At All -- 0%

Obama Supporters
Extremely -- 71%
Somewhat -- 28%
Not At All -- 1%

Undecided/Independents/Other
Extremely -- 51%
Somewhat -- 44%
Not At All -- 5%

2. Overall, did Schieffer’s performance display bias toward one candidate or the other?

McCain Supporters
Bias towards Obama -- 27%
No Bias -- 70%
Bias Towards McCain -- 3%

Obama Supporters
Bias towards Obama -- 1%
No Bias -- 88%
Bias Towards McCain -- 11%

Undecided/Independents/Other
Bias towards Obama -- 4%
No Bias -- 86%
Bias Towards McCain -- 10%

3. Did Schieffer challenge the candidates' factual misstatements or spin with tough follow-up questions?

McCain Supporters
Too Much -- 0%
Just Right -- 35%
Not Enough -- 65%

Obama Supporters
Too Much -- 0%
Just Right -- 43%
Not Enough -- 57%

Undecided/Independents/Other
Too Much -- 1%
Just Right -- 30%
Not Enough -- 69%

4. Did the debate organizers do an excellent, adequate or poor job of allowing for genuine public input into this debate?

Obama Supporters
Excellent -- 15%
Adequate -- 57%
Poor -- 28%

McCain Supporters
Excellent -- 7%
Adequate -- 53%
Poor-- 40%

Undecided/Independents/Other
Excellent -- 9%
Adequate -- 40%
Poor-- 51%

5. Where did you watch the debates?

58% of McCain supporters watched the debate on Fox News Channel; Of Obama supporters 21% watched on CNN; 20% on PBS and 27% on MSNBC.

6. Who won the debate?

94% of Obama supporters thought Obama won the debate; while 91% of McCain supporters thought McCain won. 65% of undecided voters thought Obama won.

7. Quotes from the citizen panel:

"Moderators need to insist that their questions are answered or say that what candidate said is not an answer to their question. None of the formats seemed to support a 'real' debate."

"We should arm the moderator with facts and the ability to call out both candidates on the spin and sometime outright lies."

"Find a moderator that is going to call the candidates on their lies, and cut them off if they don't answer the question asked."

"Give the planning and rules back to the League of Women Voters - the parties seem to have not only limited public participation but seem to have too much control on what can only be talked about and how the discussion will proceed."

Return to RateTheDebates.org.