Palin shows she’s no slouch in debate with Biden

10 comments October 2nd, 2008

So much for those of you who thought Sarah Palin was ditzy. She’s not. And her former career as a TV sportscaster served her well in the debate with Sen. Joe Biden. While Biden was more substantive by far on the issues, Palin looked directly into the camera as if she were wrapping up the NHL scores for Anchorage viewers.

I don’t think either veep candidate “won” the debate, but I found it informative. Biden, however, rarely looked up at the camera, did not smile much, and made the mistake of talking mostly to moderator Gwen Ifill instead of the millions at home. But Biden did succeed in pointing out that McCain’s record differs from the way Palin portrays it in significant ways.

He was smart to keep the center of focus on McCain, not attack Palin, and actually congratulate her for looking out for Alaskans by raising taxes on  oil and gas companies that operate there, a position opposite to McCain, who wants to give tax breaks to oil and gas producers.

Palin was forceful,  folksy and fetching,  a formidable combination.

Biden was competent,  folksy but defensive.

It’s either a wash, or slight advantage to Sarah.