Gallup Poll: Romney Wins Debate By 50 Points

Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney won the first debate and is now neck and neck with Barack Obama among registered voters, according to the latest Gallup poll.

Two-thirds of those surveyed said they watched last Wednesday's TV debate and an overwhelming 72% of people said Mr Romney won, compared with just 20% who thought Mr Obama took it.

The 52-point advantage is the largest Gallup has measured in such a contest, beating Bill Clinton's 42-point win over George H W Bush in a town-hall-style debate in 1992.

Significantly, independents put Mr Romney on top by 70% to 19% and even Democrats said his performance topped Mr Obama’s by 49% to 39%.

In three days of polling among the same registered voters taken after the October 3 showdown in Denver, Mr Obama and Mr Romney were tied on 47% apiece

That wiped out the five-point 50% to 45% advantage Mr Obama had held from September 30 to October 2.

The full seven-day rolling average - which includes the three days before the October 3 debate, the night of the debate, and the three days afterwards - makes slightly better reading for the incumbent, with Mr Obama on a three-point 49% to 46% lead.

"The first presidential debate went decidedly in Romney's favour," Gallup's Jeffrey Jones wrote.

"Still, the impact was not so strong that it changed the race to the point where Romney emerged as the leader among registered voters. Rather, at least in the first three days of Gallup tracking after the debate, the race is tied," he added.

Two further TV debates are planned this month on October 16 in Hempstead, New York, and October 22 in Boca Raton, Florida, ahead of election day on November 6.