6 ways Joe Biden can win the VP debate

That Obama's electoral hopes might rest on Biden's verbal skills seems like Christmas for the GOP. Here, a few ways the vice president could turn the tables

Vice President Joe Biden speaks at a campaign event on Sept. 7 in Portsmouth, N.H.: Biden might be able to outdo Ryan if he calls the congressman out on his budget math, and brings up the "un
(Image credit: Kayana Szymczak/Getty Images)

The idea that a gaffe-prone Vice President Joe Biden is expected to undo the post-debate damage to President Obama's re-election campaign by out-debating wonky wunderkind Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) fills Republicans with "open glee," says Doug Mataconis at Outside the Beltway. In fact, "conservatives have been licking their chops" for this debate since Mitt Romney tapped Ryan as his running mate in August, notes Sophie Quinton at National Journal. The American people seem to agree with the GOP's assessment of Thursday night's Biden-Ryan face-off: A CNN/ORC International poll has 55 percent of voters expecting a Ryan win, versus 39 percent for Biden, while a Washington Times/Zogby poll pegs Ryan the winner, 46 percent to 30 percent. What can the vice president do to turn those expectations on their head? Here, six ideas:

1. First, make no gaffes

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE
https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up
To continue reading this article...
Continue reading this article and get limited website access each month.
Get unlimited website access, exclusive newsletters plus much more.
Cancel or pause at any time.
Already a subscriber to The Week?
Not sure which email you used for your subscription? Contact us