The common wisdom seems to be that Thursday’s vice-presidential debate is Sarah Palin’s big test, said Noam Scheiber in The New Republic online, but Joe Biden will pay just as dearly if he screws up. If any “high-profile Democrat” is likely to play into the McCain campaign’s hands by offending voters with a condescending (“albeit inadvertent”) remark, it’s Biden the gaffe machine.
Biden doesn’t have anything to gain by hyping his experience over Palin's, anyway, said said Andrew Halcro in The Christian Science Monitor. Take it from someone who has debated Gov. Palin back home in Alaska—she is “a master, not of facts” and policies, but of the “fine art of the nonanswer.” Against “such charms,” Biden’s best bet is to ignore her, respectfully, and stick to the questions.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
Join more than 350,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with a selection of The Week’s most interesting, enlightening and entertaining stories - plus daily puzzles.
Join more than 350,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with a selection of The Week’s most interesting, enlightening and entertaining stories - plus daily puzzles.