So tonight’s Vice-presidential debate between Senator Joe Biden and Governor Sarah Palin promises to be fascinating. Both are populists and know how to connect with people, so expect there to be lots of low-brow rhetoric from both sides.
I suspect that for Palin to win this, all she has to do is show some knowledge about energy policy, a subject about which she can pretend to knowledge. If she is able to make it seem like she knows about it, which frankly, she doesn’t know that much. If she can convince viewers that she is knowledgeable on that subject, then they will be more inclined to fall in line with her when she is vague and “folksy.”
Biden’s job, then, is to take the fight to her. He can’t sit back and handle her with kid gloves and let her do her vague schtick. He needs to be less senatorial and more hardscrabble. Biden has to show his knowledge without being a know-it-all.
As both come from working-class backgrounds, they are naturals at connecting with working and middle-class voters, so this debate should be fascinating on its own terms.
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I got my popcorn and comfy seat all set up and ready for an exciting debate! It seems like there is more hype for the VP than the actual Presidential. I had read that… “A lot of people will tune in for the same reason they watch NASCAR: because on that last turn a car might crash and burn.” God forgive me, but I hope Palin falls on her face tonight.
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