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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Update: Now that the transcripts have been published I am providing the link to those (instead of the video). You will also find the transcripts for her responses on international experience. 

Video…

http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=4476649n

Transcripts…

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/09/25/eveningnews/main4479062.shtml

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Apparently Sarah Palin is special (and I don’t mean short bus special). She gets treated differently than all the other candidates…ever. 

She doesn’t have to do interviews and if she does, no one is allowed to ask a question off script. Of course that didn’t work on a few occasions so lately it is no interviews with anyone. 

So why the brush off? 

One school of thought is the McCain camp is simply sexist. Frankly I don’t believe that or he never would have chosen her in the first place. 

I think in reality the McCain team is trying to get a short-time governor up to speed in a real hurry. When Palin has answered questions lately she has been off the mark or outright inaccurate – she is showing how much she doesn’t know. 

The “Educating Sarah” phase will have to go pretty quickly as the Vice Presidential debates will be coming soon and people are going to look for substance, not just wisecracking comments from a “hockey mom” – she is not auditioning for the Last Comic Standing after all.   

Sarah, stop the hiding. Get out and answer questions like the big boys (no pun intended). You won’t get to pick what issues you get to deal with if you make it into office, so no sense in starting now. It is how you answer the tough questions that define your character, not simply sidestepping them and blaming others. 

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I think once everyone gets beyond the charming looks and the “hockey mom” persona, they are going to want to know a little about Alaska and Sarah Plain at the helm. 

Not “just like” the lower 48 states… 

• Alaska ranks number 1 in spending per resident. 

• Alaska’s tax burden per resident is more than double the national average. 

• Alaska residents get an annual check for $2,000 from oil revenues PLUS an additional $1,200 (obtained by Palin last year) to take advantage of increasing oil prices (hey, where was the help for the rest of us?!)

The state has four different taxes on oil before it leaves the state. Despite that revenue…

• Alaska ranks number 1 in money obtained from Washington.

• Alaska ranks 18th in federal taxes paid by residents ($5,434).

• Alaska ranks number 1 in federal spending received by residents ($13,950). 

McCain did well choosing someone that is starting to realize “celebrity” status – it may just be what his campaign needed. 

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Place Your Bet on Sarah! I don’t usually pass on Newswire info but since we were on the subject anyway…

DUBLIN, September 3 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Ireland’s largest bookmaker, Paddy Power, have reported a “steady flow” of support for Barack Obama to be the next American President. 

The betting company were forced to slash Obama’s odds yesterday 02/09/08) from 1/2 to 4/9 after punters seemed to react negatively to recent revelations around Republican V.P. Nominee Sarah Palin. One Irish based punter wasted absolutely no time rowing in behind Obama and placed a bet of EUR50,000 to win EUR25,000 on an Obama victory in November. 

Sarah Palin is now a 8/1 shot (from 16/1 yesterday) with Paddy Power to be dropped off the Republican ticket prior to November’s election. Paddy Power are also offering betting on what surprise the Alaskan senator will next spring on the American public. A driving offence is the bookies 5/2 favorite, a moose burger addiction is a less likely 33/1 shot and for the Alaskan Governor to claim a past abduction by aliens seems very unlikely and is available at odds of 500/1. 

Ken Robertson political betting analyst for Paddy Power said, “We’ve had numerous requests from punters across the globe looking for odds on different stories to emerge regarding the Sarah Palin, breaking and entering an igloo at 250/1 is my personal favourite but I would consider it extremely unlikely!” 

    Sarah’s Next Surprise 

    5/4    Driving Offence

    7/4    Cheated in school or college exams

    10/1   Arrested for flashing

    25/1   Is a member of Church of Scientology

    33/1   Moose burger addiction

    40/1   Donated money to the Obama campaign

    50/1   Wears Bill Clinton pyjamas to bed

    250/1  Breaking and entering an Igloo

    500/1  Abducted by aliens

    US Election Betting Update 

    Will McCain drop Sarah? 

    8/1 Sarah Palin is dropped as the Republican VP candidate

    20/1 Sarah Palin is dropped as the Republican VP Candidate by Sunday 7th September

    Next US President? 

    4/9 Barack Obama

    13/8 John McCain

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McCain’s choice of Palin for the VP is both interesting and sad. 

What is interesting is McCain, who likes to surprise people, chose a female running mate. McCain has a long history of surrounding himself with long-time advisors, people with experience, and people he has know for some time. 

He met Palin, for the first time, six months ago – not to mention he has only spoken with her once since then – to offer he the big VP spot. 

The other odd part of all this is the McCain has been touting his campaigns edge was clearly experience and how everyone on his team would share that level of experience. I guess that went out the window during a focus group when they said they needed someone to try and steal some Hillary votes. 

Don’t get me wrong Palin may be a great pick, but with only a couple years under her belt it is too early to tell. Given all the choices McCain had some people were certainly surprised (When you are 72 years old and have battled cancer four times, you better be right.) 

This “Hail Mary” by McCain will be interesting to see if it helps or hurts him in the election. The initial reaction among voters who wanted a woman in the White House is that they are not pleased. They felt Hillary was a sold candidate and that a “token” women is insulting. I think it is too early to say Palin is a “token” politician (she actually needs to wear out a pair of choose first in a political office). Palin may rise to be a great leader. 

Not matter what happens, we have clearly crossed the line of picking the most qualified people in the room to who will look good standing next to me. 

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