The CNN Breaking News email:
The final CNN/ORC post-debate poll shows 48% of respondents who watched the third presidential debate thought President Barack Obama won the event, compared to 40% who thought Mitt Romney won.
The president's eight-point advantage came among a debate audience that was slightly more Republican than the country as a whole. The survey had a sampling error of +/- 4.5%. The poll was conducted Monday night at the conclusion of the debate, held at Lynn University in Boca Raton, Florida.
However, the survey also indicates that the debate may have little impact on the choice of registered voters on Election Day. Of watchers, 24% said the debate made them more likely to vote for Obama; 25% said the debate made them more likely to vote for Romney; and 50% said the debate didn’t make a difference.
When asked whether Obama or Romney could handle the responsibilities of commander in chief, 63% said Obama could handle the duties and 60 % said Romney could handle the duties.
Nearly six in 10 debate watchers said that Obama did a better job than expected; 44% said that that Romney had done better than expected.
When asked which candidate was more likeable, respondents were split, with 48% saying Obama and 47% saying Romney.
Bottom line, early poll analysys indicates that last night's debate has little to no impact on the election.