Jon Stewart, Stephen Colbert and Dennis Miller

The results are in for the showdown of the cable news political comics – and it’s a tie. Among those who know who they are, that is.

Thirty-six percent (36%) of American adults have a favorable opinion of Jon Stewart, host of “The Daily Show” on the Comedy Central channel. For Stephen Colbert of Comedy Central’s “The Colbert Report,” a spin-off of Stewart’s program, the numbers are quite similar--35% have a favorable view. Dennis Miller, who appears regular on Fox News and has a radio talk show, also earns 35% a favorable rating.

On the downside, a Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey found that 22% regard both Stewart and Colbert unfavorably. Miller’s unfavorable ratings are a bit higher, at 27%.

For all three men, however, a sizable segment of the population doesn’t know enough about them to have an opinion – 42% for Stewart and Colbert, 38% for Miller. Only about one-in-four have strong feelings—positive or negative—about each of them.

Younger adults are more likely to know about all three than their elders, and they like Stewart and Colbert more than Miller."