VP Debate
My view of the 'winner' of this debate is the same as the Presidential one: they both won.
One of the things I keep hearing about Palin, especially in the wake of the Couric interview, is that they wanted the firebrand who accepted the nomination back. In light of her closing remarks, I think Palin did that.
However, I must point out that the speech she delivered at the Republican convention was written for "VP To Be Named Later" and personalized once there was a name. And the closing remarks were probably written well before hand and memorized. So, in that sense the Republicans got what they saw the first time; a confidant running-mate willing to fight. A well packaged running-mate.
As for Biden he managed to avoid foot-in-mouth disease, which was one of his marks for 'win', and also managed to not come off as condescending. About the only time he talked about Palin directly it was in complimentary tones on topics they agreed on. When he disagreed, the target was McCain. He laughed in self-deprecating ways, not mocking ways.
I say they both won because they did what they were sent out there to do, solidify support among the leaners. People who were deeply worried about Palin but wanted to believe, because the alternative was democrats, saw a confident woman who could field questions on national TV. People who didn't know Biden, perhaps they skipped the Primary debates, had a very complimentary introduction. Those who feared foot-in-mouth disease were reassured that it didn't happen.
In the grand scheme of things, I think this debate helped repair some of the damage done by the Couric interview, especially among likely McCain voters (among Obama partisans, though, there was plenty of new satire fodder). That said, I personally was very impressed with Biden's performance. Much as the last Presidential debate gave Obama a big boost in perceived competence in foreign policy, I think this debate will give the Obama/Biden campaign a similar bounce. So in the end, I think it'll be Biden who will get the longest post-debate bump.
One of the things I keep hearing about Palin, especially in the wake of the Couric interview, is that they wanted the firebrand who accepted the nomination back. In light of her closing remarks, I think Palin did that.
However, I must point out that the speech she delivered at the Republican convention was written for "VP To Be Named Later" and personalized once there was a name. And the closing remarks were probably written well before hand and memorized. So, in that sense the Republicans got what they saw the first time; a confidant running-mate willing to fight. A well packaged running-mate.
As for Biden he managed to avoid foot-in-mouth disease, which was one of his marks for 'win', and also managed to not come off as condescending. About the only time he talked about Palin directly it was in complimentary tones on topics they agreed on. When he disagreed, the target was McCain. He laughed in self-deprecating ways, not mocking ways.
I say they both won because they did what they were sent out there to do, solidify support among the leaners. People who were deeply worried about Palin but wanted to believe, because the alternative was democrats, saw a confident woman who could field questions on national TV. People who didn't know Biden, perhaps they skipped the Primary debates, had a very complimentary introduction. Those who feared foot-in-mouth disease were reassured that it didn't happen.
In the grand scheme of things, I think this debate helped repair some of the damage done by the Couric interview, especially among likely McCain voters (among Obama partisans, though, there was plenty of new satire fodder). That said, I personally was very impressed with Biden's performance. Much as the last Presidential debate gave Obama a big boost in perceived competence in foreign policy, I think this debate will give the Obama/Biden campaign a similar bounce. So in the end, I think it'll be Biden who will get the longest post-debate bump.
posted by Corwin at 11:05 AM
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