WASHINGTON — The much-anticipated first presidential debate between John McCain and Barack Obama on Friday appears to have helped Obama slightly widen a lead over his Republican opponent, a post-debate Los Angeles Times/Bloomberg survey shows.
Registered voters who watched the debate preferred Obama, 49% to 44%, according to the poll taken over three days after the showdown in Oxford, Miss.
That is a small gain from a week ago, when a survey of the same voters showed the Democratic candidate with a 48% to 45% edge.
The poll also indicated that the younger, less-experienced Obama has made strides since last week in convincing Americans that he can handle the toughest challenges facing the country, including the economy and international affairs.
Though still viewed as less knowledgeable than McCain, Obama was seen as more "presidential" by 46% of the debate watchers, compared with 33% for McCain.
The difference is even more pronounced among debate watchers who were not firmly committed to a candidate: 44% said they believed Obama looked more presidential, whereas 16% gave McCain the advantage.
The Arizona senator also has lost ground on several measures of voter confidence, including trust.
After the debate, 41% registered voters who saw the event said Obama had more "honesty and integrity," compared with 35% for McCain. A week ago, the same voters were evenly divided, with 40% saying McCain was more honest and 40% giving the nod to Obama.
Voters in general are also less confident than they were a week ago that McCain will strengthen the economy, achieve success in Iraq and care about voters like themselves.
The change in perceptions may have been shaped by more than just Friday's debate.
The last week has been tough on the Republican contender, who has labored to respond to the deepening financial crisis on Wall Street and fended off news reports about his advisors' ties to failed mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
McCain last week abruptly announced he would suspend his campaign, skip the debate and return to Washington to help with negotiations over a bailout package on Capitol Hill. A day later, after being accused of disrupting the delicate talks, McCain reversed course and flew to Mississippi for the debate.
The maneuver was view unfavorably by 46% of debate watchers, who said they believed McCain was "playing politics"; 38% said McCain was "acting for the good of the country."
