Who do you think is a better candidate for Vice-President? Palin or Biden?
By goldwin65
@goldwin65 (935)
Malaysia
October 3, 2008 11:46pm CST
A record US television audience tuned in for the one-off vice-presidential debate between Republican pick Sarah Palin and Democratic foe Joseph Biden. Who do you think is the better candidate for Vice-president? In the debate both of them were equally good.
Nielsen Media Research said 69.9 million people watched Palin face off with Biden, eclipsing the previous best mark set in 1984 when 56.7 million tuned in for Geraldine Ferraro's tussle with George H.W. Bush.
The figure easily surpassed the 52.4 million people who had watched presidential nominees Barack Obama and John McCain go head-to-head in their first debate of the campaign last Friday.
Thursday's vice-presidential debate was one of the most eagerly awaited showdowns in years and came after a series of faltering performances in television interviews from Palin last week.
Nielsen said the Palin-Biden debate had been shown live on no fewer than 12 networks broadcast in America, including ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC and CNN.
The under-pressure Palin was widely judged to have performed better than expected against Biden, although her performance did little to transform the overall presidential battle between Obama and McCain.
Snap opinion polls on Thursday suggested Biden won the debate. CNN's sampling said he took the clash by 51 to 36 percent while a CBS survey of uncommitted voters scored it 46 to 21 in favor of Biden.
Politics aside, the most touching moment during the vice presidential debate between Gov. Sarah Palin and Sen. Joe Biden occurred when Biden recalled being a single parent. It was 1972 and 29-year-old Joe Biden had just been elected to the Senate. His wife and daughter were killed in a car accident, and his two sons were severely injured.
After Sarah Palin's interview with Katie Couric, many predicted her debate with Senator Joe Biden would be another "moose in the headlights" train wreck. That wasn't the case. The Alaska governor held her own and had a clear command of the facts. But was she good enough to win?
2 people like this
6 responses
@rogue13xmen13 (14403)
• United States
4 Oct 08
Biden was awesome. He really knew what he was doing. Palin was okay, but did not convince me like Biden did.
@anniepa (27955)
• United States
29 Oct 08
"both the candidates were equally good during the debate. Let the best man win."
I'm responding to this as a woman who will be absolutely thrilled to one day have a female V.P. or President, but I have to say in my opinion the best MAN won the debate and the best man will win the election.
Annie
@goldwin65 (935)
• Malaysia
4 Oct 08
Hi rogue13xmen13,
both the candicates were equally good during the debate. Let the best man win. Thanks for the response.
1 person likes this
@Barbietre (1438)
• United States
4 Oct 08
Well she claims to be down to earth, but she has more money than most Americans and owns a huge home. Hey I have a little cape on Long Island and she does NOT represent me or anything I stand for, and is againts many women's issues that have been long fought for. On the truth scale which they rated the debate on she got a -9.5, Biden -3.5. That is quite telling.
1 person likes this
@goldwin65 (935)
• Malaysia
4 Oct 08
Both of them were equally good in the debate. Having strong point and able to refute each other well. That's the kind of leader we want. Thanks for the response.
@anniepa (27955)
• United States
30 Oct 08
I could 't agree more with you when you wrote, "Politics aside, the most touching moment during the vice presidential debate between Gov. Sarah Palin and Sen. Joe Biden occurred when Biden recalled being a single parent. It was 1972 and 29-year-old Joe Biden had just been elected to the Senate. His wife and daughter were killed in a car accident, and his two sons were severely injured."
I found that moment very telling regarding Sarah Palin; I started a discussion about this some time ago and as expected there were many here in myLot how called me out on it but I haven't changed my mind at all. Palin showed herself to be totally insensitive. She didn't have to really SAY much of anything but the fact that her reaction was nonexistent, that she went right back into her rehearsed talking points about what a "maverick" McCain is, "blah, blah, blah" to use one of McCain's new favorite sayings speaks volumes about her character.
I won't disagree that she didn't completely fall on her face as predicted, but what she did do was say right out she had no intention of answering any questions she didn't want to answer and she kept her word on that, evading questions and changing the subject every chance she got, apparently depending on her ability to charm the audience with a few well-placed winks and a very folksy way of talking.
My short answer is no, she wasn't good enough to win and Biden is the better candidate for V.P. hands down.
Annie
@srini33333 (710)
• India
4 Oct 08
ya maybe she is the better candidate..i don even support obama....tht guy otta lose...Mc Cain maybe old but he surely is better than Obama..and Sarah definltly will be gud as a VP...so cheers let her win
@fatmansmommy (751)
• United States
4 Oct 08
i really like sarah palin. after watching the debate last night, i liked her even more. she seems like the right choice for vice president. i think that she is the best choice to represent the people of this country- especially all of us middle-class working people. she is very intelligent and down-to-earth, and does not seem like she will be one to let power go to her head or cloud her morals or priorities. i vote mccain/palin! :)
1 person likes this
@goldwin65 (935)
• Malaysia
4 Oct 08
Hi fatmansmommy, I do agree with you. It seem that she is the favorite. I think she will make a good vice-president. Thanks for the sharing
@Zephier (73)
• United States
4 Oct 08
I think Palin is much better than Biden in my opinion. Over the past few years i've heard a bit about Joe Biden and how he has does things. He is nothing new and brings nothing new. Sarah Palin, on the other hand, gives some faith in getting on to the right path for our energy independence. You know, that little thing concerning our reliance on Mideast oil that did lead to the mindset behind the 9/11 attacks.
No offense but much of left seems to be so narrow in their vision of securing a future for this nation. It's all about winning the election as a sort of retribution after eight years of George W. Bush and nothing more. It seems to be about teaching "red-staters" a lesson.
Besides, the viewership the debates have gotten would've been lessened if it was two older men and the upcoming election would have less people wanting to voting if not for the twist. I predict the turnout will be higher this year than in 2004.
@goldwin65 (935)
• Malaysia
4 Oct 08
Well Zephier, you really do your homework about the two candidates. Same as you, I think Sarah Palin will make a better choice. Thanks for the sharing.
