Snap Polls

Here's what the "snap" polls were showing:

CNN/OPINION RESEARCH CORPORATION POLL OF DEBATE WATCHERS

Who Did the Best Job In the Debate?

Obama 51%

McCain 38%


Who Would Better Handle Economy?

Obama 58%

McCain 37%


Who Would Better Handle Iraq?

Obama 52%

McCain 47%


Which would better handle terrorism?

Obama 45%

McCain 49%


CBS POLL OF UNCOMMITTED VOTERS:

Who won?

Obama 40%

McCain 22%

Draw 38%


Who would make the right decision on Iraq?

Obama 49%

McCain 55% (I guess some people voted twice!)

Reader Dawg in Virginia is right. The real picture will emerge in the next few days.

"The real test will come in a few days when we see whether support for Obama or McCain changes in polls involving all voters, not just debate watchers," said CNN Polling Director Keating Holland.

"In post-debate polls after the first faceoff in 2004, John Kerry got virtually the same numbers as Obama did tonight. Polls released a few days later showed Kerry gaining five points in the horse race."

Good post-debate poll numbers don't always spell success in the horse race, he said.

"Kerry also won the third debate in 2004 with the same numbers that Obama got in tonight's poll, but his support dropped five points after that event," Holland said.