Biden was really on his game tonight. No gaffes and he connected with the average American...I think he projected more empathy than Palin. His line about the past being a prologue to the future was the best line of the night. Palin just regurgitated talking points, refused to answer questions and had no specific plans for the country. Palin didn't implode so I guess the right is breathing a sigh of relief (thank God for small miracles I guess). But as Purple State said on the open thread, and I thought it perfectly summed it up, (paraphrasing) "It sounded like she was running for senior class president". When the sun comes up tomorrow I don't think the numbers will be a pretty sight for McCain/Palin. McCain's base probably loved it but that is about it...

"It was imperative that (Biden) give the Republicans no openings at all to portray him as condescending, arrogant, sexist or a bloviator."

Good point Mr. Rosenberg. As an average blog commenter, I hadn't thought of that. There probably were a lot of "don't's" from Biden's team.

"In a way, Obama's task is easier. McCain is simply not likable. Palin is. And she's a woman. And she's a mom. And she is "one of the people" while Joe has been a senator since he was 30.

Another good point about Insider vs. Outsider. But it backfired on Palin -- with anyone of any intellect that is. When I read anyone's comment in a blog saying that they believe Palin won the debate, I wonder just how many hood ornament voters we have in this Country voting for hood ornament candidates like Palin.

I think McCain is likable though -- I think now that he is under more scrutiny less people are liking him. That is the case in my case anyways. I used to like him as I believed McCain to be the only Republican who followed his own mind. Well I still believe that, but I now question his mind, now that I know more about his politics. And watching him in his debate with Obama he seemed like another maverick alright -- we just had 8 years of maverick. What we need now is someone who can ask for advice from experts and be a team player rather than someone who is a stubborn know it all and a team dictator. My mother thinks Obama is naive. I'll take naive over bullheaded any day. (And I don't think Obama is naive.)

"After two suck-up Vice-Presidential nominees in a row, we, at long last, had a real fighting Democrat. What a change after '00 and '04."

I agree. I used to not like Biden as I thought he talked to much. I hope it isn't just because his time was constrained that he didn't come across that way to me in this debate at all. When the debate turned towards foreign policy, I thought he rocked, quite frankly.

I think Biden projected the demeanor of a Professional who had showed up for gladiator duty with confidence and zest for the game. He was able to defend his team and their agenda and indite the opposing team and their agenda, and he did it in a workmanlike manner.

Palin, on the other hand,struck me as someone who though she was running for prom queen, or a beauty pageant. I half expected her to pull out her flute... All the endless mugging, and grinning, and eye batting, and winking for the camera revealed a personality who is used to employing her sex appeal as her principal tactic for getting over. She seems to have great confidence in using her flirtatiousness. I would suspect that most women would see through that ruse.

On substance, she had clearly done some homework in terms of memorizing her team's slogans--but it was obvious that she has not really thought through these positions, she's just selling them, hard. She reminded me of a job interview candidate who doesn't answer the question you have asked, but wants to tell you all about her hobbies, and her pets. I would never give such a candidate a call back.

Joe Biden I would hire with confidence. I would never even want her in my organization, performing any job in any capacity. Let her go sell used snowmobiles...

They both held their own, but Gov Palin sounded too rehearsed, too many political talking points, not too original in her thoughts and approach to solving various issues brought up. Sen Biden did a good job countering the misconceptions Gov Palin to put on the Dems and Obama in particular. Gov Palin tried to carry the mantle of "I'm average as American Pie". Sen Biden fought back with his own "American Pie" experience of shopping at Home Depot and raising his two son's after his first wife's death. Gov Palin kept her snarky and smart-azz one-liners to a minimum (as polls show Independents don't care too much for that). Sen Biden got a little wonky here and there but he displayed substance over the shallowness of Gov Palin. I don't know about you, but I certainly do NOT want an "average" American in the White House, much less in a real position of becoming the POTUS as a result of any future mishap. Gov Palin's mommy talk style was a little too much for this voter; you can be a Conservative/Republican but at least have a brain, some knowledge, and foresight, NOT "Giget Goes to Washington".....