Poll: Stewart benefited from Cramer chat

FLEMINGTON, N.J., March 17 (UPI) -- Most of the 448 U.S. residents surveyed for a poll said Jon Stewart benefited most from his interview with Jim Cramer on "The Daily Show" last week.

Stewart and Cramer sat down to discuss Cramer's controversial treatment of the current economic crisis on his own show, CNBC's "Mad Money."

HCD Research said it conducted a nationwide poll March 13 to obtain viewers' perceptions of the high-profile interview, which had aired the night before. The people surveyed were self-described Democrats, independents and Republicans.

HCD said Stewart's believability and sincerity scales increased slightly among viewers after watching the interview, while Cramer's likability, believability and sincerity scales decreased.

Asked the question, "Who do you think benefited most from this interview?" 76 percent of Democrats, 72 percent of Republicans and 68 percent of independents, said Stewart.

Sixteen percent of Democrats, 20 percent of Republicans and 23 percent of independents polled said neither benefited from the on-air chat and 8 percent of Democrats, 8 percent of Republicans and 10 percent of independents said Cramer gained from the interview.