Local residents react to the vice presidential debate

Definitely Sarah Palin. High points: Sarah Palin was forceful, well-prepared and persuasive. Palin connected with the people in a way Biden did not, in spite of his experience.

Marlin Bates IV, director of forensics, Department of Communication, University of the Pacific:

As far as a debate, per se, is concerned, I thought that it was a little too moderator-driven in the beginning.

Marlin Bates IV

In other words, I thought the first 30 minutes were too focused on Gwen Ifill getting to demonstrate her ability to keep the candidates in check. After that, it really seemed as if the debate was a proxy war between Obama and McCain. We did not really get to hear what Sen. Biden and Gov. Palin thought until the final 30 minutes of the debate. Finally, I think that Gov. Palin certainly held her own in the beginning, but as we got to the final 30-45 minutes she was really relying a lot on her "aw shucks, I'm one of you" mannerisms and presentations. Certainly, both the governor and the senator were trying to portray themselves as "one of the middle class," but I felt Gov. Palin started to use that as a crutch as the debate wore on.

As to who won the debate, I would have to give that to Sen. Biden. Again, I thought it was somewhat close in the beginning, but as time wore on, Sen. Biden kept hammering on the linkage between Sen. McCain and President Bush. Additionally, I thought that even though both the governor and the senator went out of their way to "respect" the positions each had on an issue when it suited them, it seemed that this habit of "I respect you for that decision" in combination with the "dog-gone-it, that's not right" mannerisms of Gov. Palin made her look like the weaker debater. Moreover, Sen. Biden's answers after the first 30 minutes and through to the end were always in direct response to the last statement Gov. Palin had made. Gov. Palin had a tendency to try to move the debate back to issues she was strong on (her state and its energy policies) and not always directly responding.

All-in-all, I think Gov. Palin did a good job, but it was not enough to overcome a much more polished speaker and debater. Additionally, whereas Sen. Biden could easily reference (and often did) his "35 years in public service" or his "20 years in the Senate," as his credentials, Gov. Palin seemed much weaker when she referred to her "executive experience" as governor of a big state and other concerns. Moreover, if Gov. Palin was aiming to endear herself to the hearts and minds of "Joe Six-Pack," I suppose she did, but it was more in an "aw shucks" way rather than an assertive way. Speaking of "Joe Six-Pack," that got a universal laugh from the debaters. They almost universally thought that bit of "gee whiz, I'm one of you" was much too over the top.

Reader Feedback

Lodian wrote on Oct 5, 2008 5:22 PM:

" jqq: Mrs. Elmore looks to have simply had not much to add, much like Palin. "

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Robb wrote on Oct 5, 2008 12:04 AM:

" I guess that i am still shocked... Joe Biden??? it seemed like just yesterday...
are you freaking kidding me?
When did his hair plugs come in? "

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Jenn H wrote on Oct 4, 2008 2:15 AM:

" That should read "egalitarianism." Typo. Sorry. "

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Jenn H wrote on Oct 4, 2008 2:14 AM:

" Sarah "Scary" Palin had a memorized script from which she was completely unable to veer to the point of refusing to answer the questions & even announcing she wasn't going to. She doesn't even have a rudimentary understanding of what the VP's role is as demonstrated by her ludicrous response vis a vis Cheney's 8-year power grab. Thank God Joe Biden was able to provide a coherent response. She told Katie Couric that Cheney's biggest mistake during his term was his "duck hunting accident." She is a complete idiot, picked only for her genitalia. She is completely unequipped to hold any national office . . . esp. one that could well land her in the Oval Office (shudder). And most tragically, she has set back the cause of egalitarian at least 50 years. "

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uncle stinky wrote on Oct 3, 2008 10:44 PM:

" Sherrolyn Elmore, has to be the worst ever using her personal beliefs to get in the way of a debate; is she as stupid as she sounds, boy she sure gave some deep insights.

Jqq are you retarded or just sound that way. "Concise" do you know what that means? I am shocked at your stupidity. "

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thinkaboutit wrote on Oct 3, 2008 6:45 PM:

" Boy am I happy that I do not send my kids to Jim Elliott Christian school! I cannot believe a speech and debate teacher would favor a debator who uses "shout outs" and winks during her debate! My college debate professor would be mortified! "

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jqq wrote on Oct 3, 2008 12:15 PM:

" Mrs. Elmore...concise and to the point.
Mr. Bates, IV...what a wind bag! "

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Acampo_Mom wrote on Oct 3, 2008 10:16 AM:

" I was actually very surprised at how well Palin did in the debate. But, I knew before the debate even started, that she would have dozens of memorized scripts that she could recite over and over. Sure, they didn't know what the EXACT questions would be, but it seemed to me that Palin just kept giving broad generic answers, and if she didn't know how to respond, she would just change the subject.

I already expected Biden to do a good job, which he did.

All in all, really good debate, but if I had to chose a winner, I'd probably chose Biden. "

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rogerGI wrote on Oct 3, 2008 9:05 AM:

" Mr. Marlin Bates pretty much summed it up by giving Gov. Palin credit but the overall win of persuasion towards Senator Biden. Ms. Elmore's conservative side came out by shouting out Palin as the winner. As Shakespeare would say, "The lady doth protest too much, methinks"... "

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