The much-anticipated VP debate is over and both stuck well to my debate warnings on an earlier post. Neither candidate had the “train wreck” that was predicted leaving many viewers more disappointed than the remake of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
In a nutshell here are some initial poll results (compiled from several news sources)…
Who won the debate?
The edge has gone to Joe Biden by about 2/1. Sarah Palin did well and certainly did not lose ground (other than her obvious dodging of some questions) but she needed a home run. Biden only needed to hold firm.
Who is ready?
Although both exceeded expectations, Palin fell well short in the polls related to “Do you think Sarah Palin is qualified to be Vice President.” People felt about 4/1 that Biden was more qualified to be VP.
Did it change your mind?
For the most part, the VP debate did not change the minds of those who had already decided whom they were voting for. Those that were undecided gave Obama/Biden a bit more of a nod for the November win (2/1).
Other Stuff…
Most people found Gwen Ifill very fair in moderating, some thought Biden smiled too much at Palin, and others are still trying to get use to Sarah Palin’s voice (one reader went so far as to say she would turn on the “close captioning” to avoid hearing her).
At this point it will be like most elections; The VP’s did well and the focus will, once again, fall back on those at the top of the ticket.
Feel free to add your thoughts in the comment section…
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I suppose this is where you look for some witty insights to my mind. A "bio" of sorts. Here is the deal... I ride motorcycles, smoke cigars, golf, kayak, fly, race my car through the mountains, write (a lot), and travel extensively. I am almost old enough not to care what other people think about me...almost. ~ Godfather
Boy, I’m glad that was over. Joe Biden was clearly falling in love with Sarah. He seemed quite stricken by her and appeared to be cheering her on. A few more minutes and he would have given the Obama store away. Heh.
I don’t blame him. Palin rocks!
Godfather Added: Thanks for the comments Marie. Palin certainly exceeded expectations – she is a good debater (answered what she wanted, avoided questions she did not want to address). She did what she needed to for the McCain/Palin ticket. I doubt she lost any votes. It will come down to Obama vs. McCain (and not the VP’s).
Let me start off by saying I’m one of those Americans who is a registered Independent and I’m not head over heels for either presidential candidate. I do however feel John McCain made a poor choice in his VP candidate pick. Did he really think that just because she is a woman, that would sway the votes? I’m a woman and I was insulted when that was clearly his motive. Sarah Palin has not impressed me personally at all. I find her to be a puppet of John McCain and well programmed. Joe biden I absolutely love. He is real and what you see is what you get. He has not been perfect and he has changed his mind but at the end of the day he is genuine and experienced. The debate last night proved that Sarah Palin was either uncertain of how to answer some of the questions or did not want to answer truthfully in fear of losing American family votes. Especially when asked about the mortgage crisis. By the way, I don’t feel Biden was falling in love with Palin, I feel he was playing the nice card on purpose. America wanted to see him blow up just like they wanted to see Palin fall apart.
Thanks Jean. Although I don’t think Palin is the first, she seems to exemplify choosing a running mate for “celebrity” attention versus real ability or experience.
I am also registered as an independent – I get to ignore “party line” voting and vote for whomever I feel is most qualified. I like McCain but I think his choice in Palin was questionable. There is always a remote (but real) possibility the VP could end up in the “big chair.” I have concerns Palin could ever handle it.
Fortunately, I didn’t have to resort to hurling myself through my window or turning on the closed captioning like I thought. I find her voice is a little more tolerable when she isn’t yelling loudly into the microphone. I did, however, dislike the numerous “darns”, “heck-of-a’s” and references to McCain as a “Maverick”. She should have been a little more professional and direct when answering questions.
Biden was grinning quite a but I don’t think its because he was lovestruck. I think he was smiling because of how easy she was making it for him. He had no problem defending himself and Obama.
Youbetcha Rachel!
Darned if my wife wasn’t thrilled with Palin’s voice either (I noticed she turned down the volume whenever Palin got going ya know).
We had a heck-of-a…….help…I can’t stop!
One thing I’ve noticed is that the females running seem to have this urge or need to “screech”. Hillary did the same thing. Both she and Sarah sound shrill when they are speaking and it irritates my poor delicate hearing…..LOL
I’m also a registered independent and couldn’t care less who won any debate as I’m not voting for either of them. I’m sick and tired of voting for one of the only two choices that are forced on us.
But then I’m a real witch that way…..LOL
Godfather Added: Come on, you have to vote…even if it so the “other guy” doesn’t win.
“Aw shucks.” said the eye-candy cheerleader.
SP would make a great president for anybody’s local PTA. She’s got spirit. And yet she is clearly not able to put together sentences with subjects and predicates that actually make sense. She is dangerous.
Godfather Added: Come on Helen, just the local PTA?…I am ok with her handling “Cake Day” in DC.
Who said I wasn’t going to vote? Where did you get that? (yes I realize you just assumed it).
All I said was that I wasn’t voting for either of the two puppets we are being forced to accept.
I AM voting, just not for them. I’ve spent my life voting for the “lesser of two evils”…………NO MORE! That plan hasn’t worked, ever, so now I will vote for a third party. I just refuse to accept any more of the “elites” that are shoved at us.
Granted one of them IS going to win…………but then I have more than ample right to bitch my ass off about whoever does win as I voted for someone else……LOL
Godfather Added: Yea, you got me. I forgot about the third option (I suspect you will not be alone this year).
I more consider myself a Libertarian, than anything else, and I do not vote along party lines. I will proudly be voting for “My Man (gov.) Mitch” Daniels (R, IN) and to contrast, I have decided my vote this year for President will be for Barack Obama. More than I like Obama, I feel like McCain has tried to “pull one” on the American People, with his selection of Sarah Palin as his running mate.
Sarah Palin was clearly, out-classed by Joe Biden last night. Her body language showed her to be nervous, and she did nothing to show me that she has the ability to be VP or (heaven forbid) President. Biden presented himself in an executive mannor, and really convinced me that Barack Obama made a responsible and intelligent decision on his running mate.
With all of the Tina Fey talk leading up to the debate, it was to be expected that Palin would have to say “I may not do this the way you (Biden) want me to, or the way she (moderator) wants me to…” The reason for that was simple, Sarah Palin had no shot of performing at the level of Biden in a real debate.
I don’t know what gimmicks to look for next! I respected McCain. I saw him as the bi-partisan candidate. I saw him as the experienced candidate; now I feel like he is trying to take the American people for a ride, with former Ms. Alaska, runner up in the passenger seat. The two Mavericks theme is just making me sick, the “Straight Talk Express” has been completely “off track” on the issues, and the American people are still looking for some “Straight Talk” about how McCain handled the economic crisis, and the debate. Sarah Palin is being hidden from America because it is plain to see she is not capable of even performing the simplist of campaign tasks, an interview. If McCain is elected President of the United States, that would instantly make Palin a diplomat… I don’t know about you but I don’t want Palin to tell foreign leaders that she can’t answer them, but she will “get back to them”.
I am saddened that the American people will even stand for this, much less the fact that so many republicans, stand by it. Do you really think Sarah Palin is some sort of savior? How can you say that she is not being used, it certainly would rattle me more if I were a female (especially, a mother).
Listen, I am pretty close to an average Joe here; and I could have killed Palin in a debate… (I challenge Palin!) While our nations leaders are supposed to relate to the average American, they should certainly be smarter, or God help us all.
Godfather Added: Good Stuff. Thanks for the comments Chris.
Palin didn’t seem to have it together at the debate. She seemed nervous, unsteady and unprepared. She was able to efficiently speak when she needed to, but it just seemed like she was reaching the whole time, whereas Biden seems to have the debate under control. I’m neither democrat nor republican, and this is the first election I can use my power to vote in. I’m not going to use that privilege to vote for someone who seems dramatically under-qualified.
Godfather Added: Thanks for the comments. I highly suspect Palin was over coached. Then again, I wonder how she would have done had she not been.
Freedomlover: you are going to vote for the 3rd party for the sole purpose of being able to bitch about who we elect? What makes you believe the 3rd party is any different than the other 2 “elites”?
I’m sorry, but you can’t bitch if you vote for someone you know CAN’T possibly win… and the logic behind your wasting your time to do it, is pathetic.
If you vote for the 3rd party, make it because you did the research, and their views most closely resembled your own. I hope you love your “I voted” sticker, because that’s all you are going to vote for…
So I should vote for someone I DON’T want in office just because you think I’m wasting my vote? Perhaps if more Citizens grew some b*lls and did the same thing we could send a strong message to these people that WE THE PEOPLE ARE TAKING BACK CONTROL OF THE GOVERNMENT.
Sorry, I personally think you will be wasting your vote, because you are voting for more of the same.
I’m sick and tired of doing that and am now taking my stand. Too bad so many have drunk the kool-aid.
OH, and YES…………I have done and am still doing my research so that I DO make a fully informed choice (rather than the sound bytes you will be voting for). I want someone who actually believes in the Constitution AND honoring their oath to uphold and protect it!