Biden vs Palin

“Nice to meetcha. Hey, can I call you Joe?” was the way the October 3rd Vice-Presidential debate was kicked off in St. Louis, Missouri. Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin and US Sen. Joe Biden discussed topics ranging from foreign policy to the economic crisis that have many Americans terrified. Palin did a good job responding by incorporating the fact that she is new to Washington D.C and therefore has not been jaded.
“I may not answer the questions that either the moderator or you want to hear, but I'm going to talk straight to the American people and let them know my track record also”, Palin said, directly addressing the audience.
Palin’s main attraction is not only for those with religious affiliations, but also the level of reality she claims to bring to the table. During the debate she was constantly making references to soccer moms.
“Go to a kids' soccer game on Saturday and turn to any parent there on the sideline", was Palin’s response to a question on how Americans are dealing with the economic crisis.
Some observers felt that this folksy approach was somewhat questionable if one is running to lead their country. However, by turning around questions that she didn’t want to respond to and bringing them back to what she knew, she demonstrated an impressive understanding of many issues.
Of course, Palin’s two year experience as governor was no match for Biden’s 36 years in the US Senate. Biden clearly dominated the discussion with his wide breadth of knowledge on each relative topic, including those of Presidential candidates Obama and McCain.
Palin’s inexperience gleamed through a few times during the debate when she used a few malapropisms. For instance, she referred to the commander of NATO forces in Afghanistan, General David McKiernan as “McClellan”, who in fact does not exist. Although both vice presidential candidates performed well, it was clear whose knowledge was broader and whose experience would better serve the American people.