Vice presidential candidates Joe Biden and Sarah Palin aimed most of their criticism at each other’s running mate in their first and only vice presidential debate on Thursday.
Biden accused John McCain of being “out of touch” on the economic crisis and said he was “no maverick” on crucial issues facing Americans. Palin said Barack Obama was too partisan to work across party lines to accomplish change and was waving a “white flag of surrender” in Iraq.
Both camps claimed victory, but this debate is unlikely to dramatically change the presidential race. In a Rasmussen report prior to last night’s debate, just over one-third of voters (34 percent) said the debate was very important to how they would vote.
According to a CBS News/Knowledge Networks poll taken immediately following the debate, uncommitted voters who watched the debate thought Biden did the best job by a margin of more than two to one. Palin’s performance also improved overall perceptions of her with fifty-five percent saying she is prepared for the job, up from 39 percent prior to the debate. Ninety-seven percent say Biden is prepared, up from 81 percent.
All eyes were on Palin in her debut of an unscripted format following her gaffes in recent weeks, who used a steady grin, folksy manner and carefully scripted talking points to punch and persist, both politically and politely, with criticism. Palin used terms such as “heck of a lot” and “Main Streeters like me” to appeal to working-class and middle-class voters who feel abandoned by Washington, pledging that she and McCain would work for the middle-class. She mostly succeeded by not failing in any obvious way, reverting to and repeating talking points such as calling McCain a “maverick” while not necessarily easing any doubts voters may have about her depth of knowledge.
Biden’s adviser were worried that a single gaffe on his part might shift the attention off of Palin. Biden has made memorable gaffes since the beginning, but none of them have been devastating since he is notorious for misspeaking. Most of it comes from his tendency to ramble when giving a speech, answering reporters’ questions or just chatting with voters. He remained forceful and composed during the debate, and both he and Palin were able to avert any major screw-ups.
In case you missed it, you can check out the debate online in its entirety.
I totally agree with everything Angel is sayn bout Palin…she just isn’t president material…I must say a woman isn’t ready to run dis country…she speaks on things such as gas prices & how in alaska she made them affordable for the people but I checked and their gas price is at $4 something a gallon…so how in the hell do she plan on lowering our gas prices when the damn country she ran gas prices are higher than ours as of today…excuse my language but dat trick need to take her ass back to alaska…damn right its time for a change…OBAMA 08 is the change we need to make!
Hockey mom! WTF!! I am black! I don’t know s**t about no damn hockey. Its obvious she only appeals to white folks. And to think people want this idiot who thinks she see russia from her house as the next vice president. Hah!!
sarah was boring.animated and still avoided the key issues. she babbles and will put you to sleep. she continue to revert back to her safe zone which was energy WTF????? there is no way you can give her props on this debate she only recited what was told to her and any college student can do that!!!! OBAMA/BIDEN ALL DAY 08
OBAMA/BIDEN ALL DAY 08
OBAMA/BIDEN ALL DAY 08
OBAMA/BIDEN ALL DAY 08
OBAMA/BIDEN ALL DAY 08
SARAH PALIN IS ONE COCKY B1TCH
If a medical student was extremely weak in physiology and consequently COULD NOT pass the boards, would we lower the bar? NO
If a law student was weak at writing and public speaking, would a law firm LOWER THE BAR for that candidate? NO
So, why are we lowering the bar for the V.P. Position?
I’m two years removed from college, and this is the first election I’ve truly followed. Sadly, I’m very dishearten by what I see. It seems to me that people are more concerned about putting their political parties first over the well being of country. Personally, I think Obama will win this November. However, the audacity of the GOP allowing this radical pick to fly literally SCARES ME. I will continue to pray.
Palin: “Dog gonnit”…”Darn”
People are actually arguing who did a better job during this debacle. Anyway, this whole election is ridiculous the only thing they’re accomplishing is distracting the masses even more.
@ Palin Stan
Let’s be real. She didn’t say “This is to all the mom’s out there!” She said “hockey moms” Palin was specific and that gives people a feeling of being ‘left out’. Like the comment she made about Biden not knowing what it’s like to raise children alone. That hurt Biden’s feelings. That wasn’t toward race…it was toward sex. Everyone knows that man is a single parent, and why. And why should she know better than he? Her husband is a stay at home dad, supposedly. Plus, I didn’t like the way she commented on letting gay couples be able to see each other in hospitals. “No. That would lead to them wanting gay marriage.” What! Is she sick?! Anyone in there time of need should be able to see the one’s closest to them.
No one’s saying she’s a racist! But everything points to her being “prejudiced” and that is why we want change. Please don’t let this prejudiced woman into the white house.
Secondly, what makes her call herself middle class? I’m either confused or she is.
I’m ready to throw the switch for a real change. The Republicans really scraped the bottome of the barrel when they chose gunslinger Sarah. SHe responds like she’s running for prom queen than vice president of the US. I have NO faith in her or McCain – who seems like he’s on the brink of Alzheimer’s
Pass it on.
Please, please advise everyone you know that they absolutely can NOT go to the polls wearing any Obama (or whoever you are voting for) shirts, pins, hats, etc. It is AGAINST THE LAW and will be grounds to have the polling officials to turn you away. This is considered campaigning and no one can campaign within X amount of feet of the polls. They are banking on us being overly excited and not being aware of this long standing law that you can bet will be ENFORCED THIS YEAR!!!!!
They are banking that if you are turned away, you will not go home and change your clothes and return to the polls to vote. Please just don’t wear ANY gear of any sorts to the polls! Please share this information with as many people as you can. If you are already aware of this, please don’t take it as insulting your intelligence.
Have a great day and see you at the polls on or BEFORE November 4th.
A CHANGE IS COMING ! ! !
Palin may have redemed herself since the Katie Couric interview, but she still has proved that she is NOT READY to be VICE PRESIDENT. She needs to go back to her “tiny” town in Alaska and continue Governing there & killing Mooses & ice fishing with her family & towns people. Its funny how she & McCain are so quick to say how Obama is so “in-experienced & lacks experience” but what experience does this Palin chick have other than Governing a town that isn’t even half the size of Brooklyn! Her tired rehearsed lines & eye winks, & rehearsed answers, and fake smiles made her look like a babbling fool! Biden blew her ass out the water (clearly the winner of the Debate)
Its amazing how easily sucked into this womans FAKE smile, & phony Persona. It amazes me how some women look up to that woman, as if she is some type of super hero for all women. BS!!! Some folks can’t see past the glossy lipstick, and mascara. This ELECTION is a NO-BRAINER!!
It’ll be a SAD DAY for AMERICA if McCAIN /PALIN wins this election…A VERY SAD DAY!
Im REGISTERED! I WILL BE VOTING ON NOVEMBER 4TH 2008!
OBAMA ’08!!!!
1. AFTER SEEING THE DEBATE IT’S CLEAR THE DEMOCRATIC TICK ET IS ALL WRONG, JOE BIDEN SHOULD BE ON THE TOP.
2. IF PALIN HAD 18 MONTHS OF CAMPAIGN TRAINING LIKE OBAMA HAS HAD, PLUS HER EXPERIENCE AND GRIT, SHE WOULD BE LEADING FOR PRESIDENT.
3. LET THERE BE NO MISTAKE IN UNDERSTANDING THAT THIS FINANCIAL MELTDOWN HAPPENED UNDER THE DEMOCRATIC CONGRESSIONAL WATCH.
I’m just ticked that the media isn’t bashing and ripping up her every word. If she had been Barack Obama they would bagger her 24-7. Just goes to show that the gov’t thinks we’re lame, sure just throw some lily white of white woman in their faces and they’ll love her. Not. Palin just showed me how royally fake a white woman could be. She had this silly smirk on her face whenever she couldn’t answer a question. Sord of like that smirk you get from a white woman a bank when she’s turning down your loan. Obama08 or suffer the consenquences.