VP Debate Showdown: What to Watch For…

This will be the most watched VP debate in the history of television (no real point in going further back than that is there?!) and the government probably should have put the VP debate on Pay-Per-View and made a view bucks towards the bailout. 

So what exactly is at stake and what should we be watching for? 

Well, certainly the performance of Sarah Palin is at the top of the list. Many expect her to fall on her face but I think those same people forget she did get to be Governor and does have some debate experience. Sure she is a Saturday Night Live constant punch line and her recent interviews seem to show her yet to answer a question directly – the debate is a whole new ground.

Three big things will determine Palin’s performance…

One, can she hold a conversation with Biden that is not filled with quirky one-liners. This isn’t Last Comic Standing; this is the role of someone who could some day be President of the United States. Save the one-liners for Hockey Mom meetings.

Two, carefully handle the fact Biden has much more experience. McCain’s camp is trying to make Palin about “change” to combat Obama/Biden. Tough to do when McCain himself is not really about change to that degree. Any slam about Biden’s age comes back to McCain. She needs to stay out this area.

Lastly, is Palin over coached? No doubt Palin has been locked in a room with flash cards and Government 101 books. Now she needs to speak as herself and not try and regurgitate the words of others – Good luck.

Biden needs to tread lightly…

Senator Joe Biden on the other hand can occasionally get caught up in emotion and go “off the reservation.” Palin will be watching for this misstep and jump on any opportunity.

Joe Biden also has a tightrope to walk. As much as everyone wonders if Palin is being treated fairly as a women, Biden will have to debate her. Push too hard and you will come off overpowering (or disrespecting) to the women viewers. Don’t push hard enough and you will come off weak to those watching that are on the fence.

For the most part Biden just needs to not underestimate Palin. She is a skilled debater. It by no means makes her more qualified, just great at debating. Palin has five debates under her belt and is undefeated. Biden needs to stick to the issues.

Both have to work the fine line between debating each other and defending the positions of their running mates. That said, votes are usually decided at the top of the ticket – the VP debate helps solidify those votes. Given the latest polls, Biden just needs to hold ground; Plain needs a home run to help McCain.

Forget about Ifill…

The other issue to come on the table is the fact that the moderator, PBS’s Gwen Ifill, came under fire since she is releasing a book post election entitled “Breakthrough: Politics and Race in the Age of Obama.”

Some conservatives suggest she will be biased during the debate. Frankly, I looked into her background and her career spans decades. She moderated the 2004 Vice Presidential Debate. Her colleagues (liberals and conservatives alike) find her professional. As far as I am concerned, this is a non-issue.

The showdown is tonight at Washington University (St. Louis). I still think they should have put it on Pay-Per-View.