Most Voters say Debate Moderators are Biased

[DeeDeeNY]

Most Voters say Debate Moderators are Biased

http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/election_20082/2008_presidential_election/most_voters_say_debate_moderators_are_biased

Three out of four U.S. voters (74%) say they are Very Likely to watch the upcoming presidential debates, but over half (56%) think debate moderators are biased in their questioning, according to new Rasmussen Reports national telephone surveys taken Friday and Saturday nights.

In the first debate this Friday evening, 22% believe the moderator, veteran PBS newsman Jim Lehrer, will try to help Barack Obama. Forty-three percent (43%) say Lehrer will play a neutral role to help voters make an informed choice. Only six percent (6%) think he will try to help John McCain

. . . .

Despite all the recent hoopla surrounding McCain’s choice of Alaska Governor Sarah Palin as his running mate, two-thirds of voters (67%) say they are more interested in the presidential debate than the debate between Palin and Democratic vice presidential nominee Joseph Biden. Twenty-five percent (25%), however, say they are more interested in the vice presidential debate.

Republicans, perhaps reflecting the enthusiasm that Palin has brought to the race, are twice as interested as Democrats in watching the vice presidential debate.

[nichomachus]

1. Please remember -- they are not debates

No matter how many times people call them that.

They are carefully staged TV talk shows.

In a real "debate" George Bush would have wet his pants and cried before the end. In a real debate, Sarah Palin couldn't last two minutes. In a real debate, John McCain would have a stroke.

These shows are frauds. I really don't know why anyone even pays attention to them.

[NMDemDist2]

2. Schiffer will balance that out

:evilgrin:

[DeeDeeNY]

4. Years ago they were run by the League of Women Voters

Totally unbiased.

[jefferson_dem]

3. Most informed voters know Rasmussen's polls are biased.

I see he's already trying to frame the debates, rethug-stylie.

[DeeDeeNY]

5. Yes, their polls are not good

but this gives a good indication of what the post-debate Rethug spin will be -- that the moderator was biased towards Obama.