In theory, vice presidential debates shouldn’t matter that much — only 18 percent in a recent Rasmussen Poll said it would be “very important” to their vote — and that’s the way it should be. Neither guy, one hopes, will be president and the basic task of each is to demonstrate, if disaster strikes, that he would be up to the job. Biden has proven before that he would be, and Thursday night Ryan seemed competent on a national stage.
Yet this particular debate did matter and especially for Biden. He had to stem the Mitt Romney surge that over the last week has remade this race. He may have helped slow it, but probably it hasn’t been reversed.
Comments
Congratulations - you choose style over substance.
First, Mr. Keane seems to think the race has changed. I don't. It was going to be a tight race from the beginning and has simply comeback to where it always was. The euphoria by the left wing zealots was always misplaced,just as the right wing has gotten overly excited. Obama led on average in all the swing states before and he still does. I have always said it would be a base election. Who gets out their people. That remains to be determined.
As to the debate. Frankly I wasn't as enthralled with Ryan's style as Mr. Keane was. He was rather boyish and appeared on occasion quite over his head, especially in the foreign affairs section. But I would again point out on the crucial and I mean crucial issue of Social Security and Medicare, style don't count. Biden stated strongly and specifically those programs would not be privatized. Ryan could not do the same. The great swath of the electorate that cares about those two programs could not miss the difference. Biden "politically" whether one agreed on policy or not won that easily. People do not want those two programs messed with and they view the Democrats as the protectors of both.
So Tom, you pick style over substance, I'll pick politics. Biden won.
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Biden on Policy???? Tom hopes that people haven't folllowed what is going on in Libya. When people find out that Joe flat out LIED about the Administration's insistence that the Administration initially blamed the Libyan embassy attacks on a Video because of an "INTELLIGENCE FAILURE", the Obama campaign is going to be in deep doooo doooo. There was no intelligence failure whatsoever. The only way for Joe to win was to flat out LIE about major issues. And the Libyan embassy affair isn't going away. --In fact, it is going to be barack Obama's albaross.
Ryan, the monday morning quarterback. Why wasn't HE saying anything about the situation before it happened? Why did HE cut the embassy support budget $300 million dollars?
If Obama somehow survives re-election, he will be impeached for lying about Benghazi-gate. The exposed lies are starting to pile-up!!! The story is getting legs and it won't end well: Obama will be impeached over this.
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Biden look undignified with the constant smirk on his face. He was condesending with his remarks and I was astonished when he proclaimed that "no one had asked for more security in the Lybian embassy prior to the attack." He is a TOTAL buffoon. God forbid that he is a heart beat away from being President.
...a 40 year career politician in office has 6 days of secluded debate preparation, and last night's display is what it yields??? I also fear for The Republic if the president flatlines before the Republicans take over in January.
Biden for President?!?! His performance last night was so off-putting, I can't imagine anyone other than liberal, partisan democrats taking him seriously, regardless of his experience.
feedback hitting the airwaves on Biden: Buffoon, condescending, rude, disrespectful. It is shocking that this man is a heart beat away
Americans can now understand the dissent & grid-lock in Washington.
Biden is obnoxious, condescending, and boorish.
Obama cannot debate/discuss or talk without a TELEPROMPTER.
The two in a meeting, must come across as Frat boys.
Again directly from FOX news. I wish you folks could get original.
And Tom, do you think America would elect a man who has been in DC since 1972 President? He has been front in center during the demise of congress in the eyes of the public.
Bob ays because you've been employed by your constituents since 1972, you should be fired. Makes sense to a Republican, I suppose.
Don't put words in my mouth, pvalen (Love how you dont use your real name. How courageous). I was alluding to how there is absolutely no way that Biden could get the needed independent votes to win an election, based on how long he has been in DC. If you've followed presidential politics, its not too popular these days to have a history of being entrenched in the least-respected and liked political body in our country.
this chart shows all that matters:
http://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2012/10/the-problem-joe-biden-cant-overcome.php
Joe Biden spent the first half looking like an idiot with those faces and then spent the second half beating-up Martha Raddatz, as if she's runnning for VP. Then he interrupts Ryan virtually every time Ryan opened his mouth. If that wasn't bad enough, Martha Raddatz would interrupt Ryan when Biden wasn't! And why did Raddatz ask probing questions of Ryan but never once from Biden? Did she become afraid of Biden? Women, do you approve of how Biden treated Martha Raddatz? Women, do you approve of Obama lying to you for ten days about a terrorist attack on the anniversary of 9/11?!? Women, do you think it is wise for Biden to pile three more Libya lies on top of the lying mess they already have? Very strange debate. Democrats ate it up but I suspect it didn't help Obama one iota. And with reason!
Oh boo hoo. It's SOOO upsetting to see our boy Ryan laughed at. If Biden wanted to make nice, he should have sat there like an automatron instead of being amused as Ryan swung and missed most of the time.
bvut I thought liberals were supposed to be so tolerant. right
Joe Biden spent the first half looking like an idiot with those faces and then spent the second half beating-up Martha Raddatz, as if she's runnning for VP. Then he interrupts Ryan virtually every time Ryan opened his mouth. If that wasn't bad enough, Martha Raddatz would interrupt Ryan when Biden wasn't! And why did Raddatz ask probing questions of Ryan but never once from Biden? Did she become afraid of Biden? Women, do you approve of how Biden treated Martha Raddatz? Women, do you approve of Obama lying to you for ten days about a terrorist attack on the anniversary of 9/11?!? Women, do you think it is wise for Biden to pile three more Libya lies on top of the lying mess they already have? Very strange debate. Democrats ate it up but I suspect it didn't help Obama one iota. And with reason!
Now these are some funny comments I may start l-o-ling like "system". So you figure those old folks are worried about Biden's laughing or are they worried about Ryan not answering the question, "Will you privatize SS." Voucherizing Medicare. The election is what it has always been, close. But if you get your cookies off like some kindergarten kid going on about someone's laugh knock yourself out. You won't change anyone's vote with it and sure as heck won't impress anyone with your analysis.
Has the world gone mad? Biden was such a major embarrassment to his office and the President. His ridiculous antics negated the few worthwhile and coherent comments he made during the debate, or should I say "Reality Show". He made such a spectacle of himself and hollered so loud he was hoarse by the time he made his pathetic closing remarks. Remember Howard Dean in 2004? Bidden surpassed that debacle. If all these journalists are serious in their assessments, the press is sadder than the politicians they cover... God help us. Also, is it impossible for any of the moderaters to maintain order and demand that the debaters just answer the questions they're asked?
Been listening to talking heads again. I can always tell when folks do that. There observations always match up. I believe the Dean remark was FOX.