WASHINGTON, Oct. 3 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Democratic senator Joe Biden won the vice presidential debate Thursday night with both candidates exceeding expectations, a poll released on Friday showed.

The CNN survey found that 51 percent of the 611 adult Americans polled thought Biden did the best job, while 36 percent preferred his opponent, Republican governor Sarah Palin.

Democratic vice presidential nominee Senator Joe Biden (D-DE) (L) and Republican vice presidential nominee Alaska Governor Sarah Palin (R) smile as they chat onstage at the end of their vice presidential debate at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, Oct. 2, 2008.   (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)

But 54 percent of the respondents said the folksy Palin was more likable, against 36 percent for Biden.

Seventy percent said Biden was more of a typical politician.

Both candidates exceeded expectations with 84 percent of the people polled saying Palin did a better job than they expected and64 percent making the same comments for Biden.

Democratic vice presidential nominee Senator Joe Biden (D-DE) speaks as Republican vice presidential nominee Alaska Governor Sarah Palin (R) listens during the vice presidential debate at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri Oct.  2, 2008.  (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)

How Palin would perform in this year's only vice presidential debate had been a major issue for the Alaska governor, who had some well-publicized fumbles during interviews with CBS' Katie Couric leading up to the debate.

Respondents thought Biden was better at expressing his views, giving him 52 percent against Palin's 36 percent.

On the key issue of the candidates' qualifications, 87 percent said Biden is qualified and Palin scored 42 percent.

The candidates sparred over which team would be the better agent of change. Biden came out on top of the debate, with 53 percent of those polled giving the nod to the Delaware senator and42 percent saying Palin was more likely to bring change.