Reply #21: I agree with the OP

[Bryan]

The debates represent a chance for our candidates to interact directly with McCain and Palin outside of their protective cocoon, and the importance of that cannot be underestimated; neither of the Republican candidates is a nimble thinker, and both are exceedingly smug, which makes them vulnerable in an extemporaneous forum.

Biden will be able to outclass Palin going away as long as he avoids the temptation to condescend to her. For his part, Obama needs to contradict and undercut McCain as much as is possible without seeming snide; McCain, with his powerful sense of entitlement, will view this as an intolerable goad, and will wander from his prepared material and maybe even lose his temper. The mainstream media will tend to spin for the Republicans, but egregiously embarrassing slips by McCain and Palin can overpower the post-debate spin and shift public opinion in a superficial way (and, sadly, superficial might just do the trick).