Instant polls from CNN and CBS have ruled incumbent President Barack Obama the victor of the third and final presidential debate.

CBS News said that its poll of 521 undecided voters said the president had won the night by a 53% to 23% margin over his GOP counterpart, with a further 24% saying they thought it was a tie. CNN said Mr. Obama won by eight percentage points among the debate watchers it polled, 48% to 40%.

The third debate consisted of an aggressive, unrelenting performance from the president and a more calm and defensive performance from Governor Mitt Romney. The general election occurs in two weeks.