'Today' Finds 'Undecided' Voters Against Palin

Despite "Today’s" earlier praise of Sarah Palin’s debate performance, Amy Robach managed to assemble seven "undecided voters" (and reported that five voted for Bush) who did not express high opinions of the Alaska governor. On the October 3 edition, Robach found women voters she identified as undecided and from key battleground states. Although the discussion began with two of the women offering positive remarks about Governor Palin, the positive feedback ended there.

Polling these seven women, Robach found "nearly every one" held a less favorable view of Sarah Palin after viewing the debate. One voter claimed Palin "has sealed the deal for me" and she "is in no way ready...to be vice president." Another "made up [her] mind" because "Palin didn’t do it for me." Curiously, one "undecided" voter wanted a candidate that would "end the war" and because of Biden’s promise she was swayed to the Obama/Biden ticket.

The transcript follows.

ANN CURRY: One group watched last night's vice presidential debate very closely, undecided voters, especially women. Our national correspondent Amy Robach watched it last night with a group of them. Hey Amy.

AMY ROBACH: Hey Ann. That's right. And before the debate these women were truly torn about who they should vote for but when I spoke to them after it was all over last night some of them had their minds made up. We gathered together seven undecided women from swing states like Florida, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Colorado. Five voters who in 2004 cast ballots for Bush, one for Kerry, and one who is going to the polls for the first time in 2008. So a lot of pundits thought tonight that it was very important for Sarah Palin, Governor Palin, to prove that she had a real understanding of the issues. How many people now have a more favorable view of her?

SARAH OEHLER, COLORADO VOTER: Both of them were able to really make some strong statements and go back to some specific issues because I hadn't seen Sarah Palin go to really specific voting records and tonight I saw her come back in force a couple times and that impressed me.

LORI SINGLETON, FLORIDA VOTER: She just seems like somebody that I could sit across the table from and just have this great conversation with. I mean, she's feisty and I like that.

ROBACH: By a show of hands, how many people were disappointed or have a less favorable view of Sarah Palin after watching her tonight? Nearly everyone.

MELANIE McCORMICK, FLORIDA VOTER: She avoided the questions that were clearly asked to her. I really do not feel that she's ready to lead this country.

ROBACH: How many people now have a more favorable view of Senator Biden post-debate?

UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN: I really like what Joe Biden said about what happened during the last four years. Our economy has gone down.

ROBACH: Has anyone here made a decision based on tonight? You have Terri.

TERRI WATSON, FLORIDA VOTER: She has sealed the deal for me. She is in, no way, ready to, you know, be the vice president and potential president of the United States of America, not at all.

McCORMICK: I made up my mind tonight. I have one parent who is a Democrat and the other one who is a Republican. I was undecided because I was hearing two different sides of the story. Palin didn't do it for me.

ROBACH: Was there a moment that stood out to you the most?

SINGLETON: Biden said they would end the war and she said they would not. That's pivotal for me, pivotal.

DEBBIE FROMMER, PENNSYLVANIA VOTER: What bothered me the most is the way they keep talking about rebuilding Afghanistan, Iraq. Not once did anybody mention that our people here down in New Orleans and Texas and everything else that are still without homes from Katrina.

ROBACH: Earlier this week we heard in Geraldine Ferraro. She the only other woman in that position in our country's history and she supports the Obama/Biden ticket, but she said this: She says "I want Governor Palin to do well because it's important for little girls to see someone there who can stand toe to toe with a guy." Do you feel the same?

WATSON: I have two daughters myself. I wanted her to do well. You know, I needed her to do well, the world is watching.

OEHLER: I think she came out fighting and I hope there come as day you don't have to be a gentleman to debate a woman, that you can really come out with some punches. Why does this have to be a discussion?

ROBACH: And Ann it is the undecided voters in swing states like these women will be very influential on Election Day and will be watching each of these campaigns very closely over the next few weeks.