Biden v Palin: an analysis

[Joanne98]

I managed tos stay up for this debate as well, probably because is the first time in history in which the Veep debate was more awaited than that of the main candidates to the Presidency.

I have to admit I was watching while doing other stuff because Palin’s performance was just appalling (no pun intended). I know a lot of people will say she beat expectations, but frankly they were so low and she beat them by so little that it was quite hard to keep focus on what she was saying. Palin was so scripted it was hard not to think of her as a robot just repeating talking points one after another. Iain Dale notices that Biden refered to McCain quite often, there’s a reason for that. Because Palin couldn’t get off her script, for fear of making too many gaffes, Biden used that handicap of hers and kept hammering McCain and Palin left most of his attacks unanswered. Palin continuously went back to everyday issues whenever she got trapped in areas she didn’t understand or couldn’t articulate herself properly. Probably the most awful moment of the night is when she said that teachers’ reward will be in heaven. I mean, come on! is that even an argument worthy of a serious presidential campaign? (Obama is offering a pay rise to public school teachers) And on and on she went. Palin just looked like she was in Disneyland, she seemed overwhelmed by how lucky she’s been to be in a ticket she’s not even close to be qualified for.

On the other hand, for me the key to this debate was to see what Joe Biden was all about. I didn’t know much about him beforehand so wanted to see how he carried himself on stage. I think he did well. Some people think he didn’t finish her off, but the reality is that exposing her weaknesses rather than trying to humiliate her was a safer choice for the Obama campaign. Biden used the debate to put out there his political experience. As he didn’t have much of an opponent in Palin he just focus on showing off his qualifications for the post, to place some campaign messages out there and throw some punches at McCain. He also showed to be quick on his feet, when Palin used her emotional ‘working mother sending her kids to college’ that so well has worked for her before, Biden neutralised it with a reminder of his own family’s misfortunes to make sure the electorate understands he knows what challenges middle America faces.

Most polls and focus groups are giving Biden a win. A well deserved one I might add. The Palin effect is now completely neutralised. And with the McCain campaign announcing that they’re pulling out of Michigan, a key swing state, things are looking up for Obama. Two more debates and the unexpected might change it, but Obama, thanks to Joe Biden’s performance yesterday, is a bit closer to victory in November.

http://forgesianthinking.wordpress.com/2008/10/03/biden-v-palin-an-analysis/

[phantom power]

1. Peggy Noonan assures me that Palin "killed."

Killed, I tell you! The debate was hers!

:banghead: