I listened to the entire debate on the radio in my car, so I don't know if I have a different impression than those who watched it on television. My sense is that from a debate scorekeeper's point of view, Biden definitely won it. He took the offensive, stated his points clearly, offered evidence for his claims and used language and repetition effectively to drive home his arguments. I say this even though on many points I disagreed with him, and on a few I think he was exaggerating or even misleading. But he did communicate effectively what he was trying to say.
Palin might have lost the debate, but she did more than just survive, and she definitely did not embarrass herself. She was not as smooth as Biden. But Palin did offer some cogent, clear answers (though too many times those answers were to questions that hadn't been asked) and she did not sound nearly as nervous as she has in her television interviews. She played defense all night, but she played it well enough. Probably too well for some Republicans, with her frequent attacks on Wall Street and her calls for more regulation.
If this were a football game, I would say that Biden controlled the ball, moved it downfield with relative ease but Palin played just well enough to keep him from converting every drive into points. I would guess that her base was pretty happy with her showing, and she might have won over a few swing voters who were growing concerned about her competence.
But oddly enough, I thought the biggest difference between the two from a listener's point of view was authenticity. Biden, the professional politician who has been in the Senate half his life, sounded like a regular guy to me. He sounded comfortable and unrehearsed, like a fellow talking politics in the corner bar with a friend with whom he disagreed. He did not sound arrogant or condescending. He wisely kept the focus on McCain and not Palin. Palin sounded like she was performing, offering scripted lines where she could and speaking at times more like a politician than the plain spoken heartland mom she wants us to believe she is. On an emotional level, I don't think she connected as well as she could have, nor as well as Biden did.
Overall advantage: definitely Biden.
If this were a football game, I would say that Biden controlled the ball, moved it downfield with relative ease but Palin played just well enough to keep him from converting every drive into points. I would guess that her base was pretty happy with her showing, and she might have won over a few swing voters who were growing concerned about her competence.
But oddly enough, I thought the biggest difference between the two from a listener's point of view was authenticity. Biden, the professional politician who has been in the Senate half his life, sounded like a regular guy to me. He sounded comfortable and unrehearsed, like a fellow talking politics in the corner bar with a friend with whom he disagreed. He did not sound arrogant or condescending. He wisely kept the focus on McCain and not Palin. Palin sounded like she was performing, offering scripted lines where she could and speaking at times more like a politician than the plain spoken heartland mom she wants us to believe she is. On an emotional level, I don't think she connected as well as she could have, nor as well as Biden did.
Overall advantage: definitely Biden.
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