Biden did all that you would hope for. In fact he was the only one to really connect emotionally. Governor Palin succeeded in this format. She was very rote in her answers as you would expect after days of drilling. She is not dumb. She has been a professional news reader, so you expect some competence.

But I agree with some of the initial responses. Ms Palin did nothing to distinguish the McCain Palin ticket from the Bush administration. Constant references to being mavericks without any substantive points to be made is not persuasive to me.

This is a minor victory for McCain in that it was not a disaster. But, unless the economic issues dissapear, it will mean little in the long run.

Now, the focus will be once again on the principals. It’s plain that Ms Palin, one heart beat away, will be kept away from the media. That has been a disaster.

Thank god for live television. I wonder what goodies were left on the cutting room floor by Katie C of CBS. But what do you expect from Katie who had a sister elected to office as a Democrat. Palin was great!!!!!

Much improved by Palin. Nearly perfect game by Biden.

Biden’s a weak stage performer, but at least he answered the questions (usually). Palin always went off on some semi-prepared statement regardless of what Ifill asked. Shame on Ifill for letting these candidates go off-topic so easily. Palin needed a solid, substantive performance tonight to assuage fears that she’s in over her head, but in the end I thought she came up short. She was OK the first 30 minutes, but then ran out of talking points, and started randomly misfiring and repeating herself. After a lousy start, Biden was strong on foreign policy and on the economic travails of working- and middle-class Americans. He seemed genuinely choked up talking about his own family struggles, and Palin seemed really awkward responding to that. I wouldn’t have thought it’d be Biden that seemed more authentic. I have to give the advantage to him.

GUNS,BABIES,JESUS = Sarah Palin’s is “THE LEFTS WORST NIGHTMARE”
Sarah won hands down
not even close

To Frank Mills-
“She showed Biden and the rest of the world she is qualified to be President, much more so than O’Bama.”

First of all, Sarah Palin is not running for President. Secondly, Obama’s name is not spelled with an apostrophe in it. If he’s of any Irish decent, I haven’t heard anything about it. And I respectfully disagree with you that she won by a landslide. She held her own & did a much better job tonight than this Obama/Biden supporter was anticipating. That said- she in no way connects with me…. a Missourian…. a middle class, caucasian, educated female in Kansas City. I think that if any of us are going to campaign for our candidates of choice, we need to 1) educate ourselves on BOTH candidates, despite our personal beliefs (HOW can we be true advocates for our leaders if we do not have an understanding of the opposite points of view?) and/or 2)if we don’t want to bother learning about the “opposite” point of view, then we need to keep our mouths shut and focus on positive campaigning for our candidates. The negative comments from both sides (liberal and conservative) are getting to be RIDICULOUS. Your (and anyone else’s) attempt to cut down your fellow Missourians for campaigning for their candidate (whoever it may be) is disgusting.

Wow, Sarah Palin is a breath of fresh air, no pretense or political
snobbery. She made Biden squirm and she enjoyed every minute.
Good choice, John McCain !

PALIN DOES NOT BELIEVE IN EVOLUTION. Question answered. She is a right wing convservative looney. So go ahead all you bushies and carry on the destruction of this country by voting for 4 more years of the same. Unbelievable how many people refuse to take their blinders off and face the facts. Simply unbelievable.

After a week of embarrassing press, the bar was low for Palin. She acquitted herself well. The problem, though, is she shows little depth, very little understanding of issues. She proved herself a good study, and could speak the political speak.

Biden, on the other hand, is well versed in what he discussed. He has a clear track record, and sounded credible and smart throughout the evening. In many ways, the debate seemed to gloss over the real identity of Palin, that she is a conservative to the core. Sure, she has her folksy ways, but on social issues she’s as regressive as they come.

-A St. Louis native who’s long lived in California

Palin is George Bush in a dress; folksy, empty, & clueless…I don’t understand why people translate folksy into being qualified for the 1st or 2nd highest office in the country!! This is why our country is suffering immensely right now! Let’s at least pick someone who is far more intelligent than we are in economics and foreign policy, people!!!