AFTERNOON CHATTER

Everyone is talking about the new USA Today/ Gallup poll that shows Tuesday night's debate did more good for Democrat Barack Obama than his Republican rival John McCain.

If anyone needed a boost in the polls from that debate, it was Senator McCain.

While 53% of the 735 people surveyed said their opinions of Obama had not changed, 34% said they thought more favorably of him and 12% viewed him less favorably. All 735 said they had watched the debate.

The reactions to McCain were almost mirror opposites: 54% said their opinions about him had not changed, 33% felt less favorable and 12% felt more favorable.

The poll also shows that among those surveyed, 56% thought Obama did the "better job" at the debate, to 23% who said that about McCain. Fifteen percent said the candidates' performances were "equal."

The USA Today/ Gallup poll was conducted on October 8th over the telephone among likely voters.

Things aren't looking good for McCain and his runningmate, Sarah Palin.