Local residents react to the vice presidential debate

Sherrolyn Elmore, speech and debate teacher at Jim Elliot Christian High School:

Who won?

Sherrolyn Elmore

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.