How Important is the Vice Presidential Debate?
Could the Vice Presidential debate really make a difference in the final outcome? This one has gotten more advance press coverage than the Presidential debate and will probably get a larger audience. But will people be tuning in to see what the candidates really have to say, or will be just out of curiosity to see how Sarah Palin does on her own up against Joe Biden?
According to the latest poll from Rasmussen Reports, more than one third of the voters say the Vice Presidential debate will make a difference in how they vote. The proof will come with the first polls next Monday, but here is what the voters told Rasmussen.
Sarah Palin is going to have to be in top form because 54% said they believe Joe Biden is the better debater. Now the Governor did very well in her debates with her rivals in the Alaska Governor’s election. She showed a lot of poise and knew what she was talking about, but this is a different stage. And when it comes to how important the Vice Presidential debate is, 34% said very important, 38% somewhat important, 22% not very important and 6% not important at all. That is 72% who consider the debate at least somewhat important in deciding how they will vote.
Many of the voters already have their minds made up as to who will be the biggest help to the ticket. Palin has 43% who say she will and Biden 45% who say he will. One of the reasons Palin was chosen was to attract women who were Hillary Clinton supporters, but in this and in other polls the results show the opposite. On the question of who would be the one to help his/her ticket the most, 50% of the men and 37% of the women said Palin while 37% of the men and 51% of the women pick Biden. This is the one question that had a lot of undecided – 12% of the men and 12% of the women.
The poll also asked the voters to pick who the winner would be if there were to be a race for the Presidency between Biden and Palin. In this case, it would be Biden 50%, Plain 40% with 11% undecided. Again, Palin does better with the men, 47% than with the women -33% and Biden does better with the women- 57% then with the men- 43%.
Now, it is time to sit back, watch the debate and wait for the next polls. With just a month to go, and all of the recent events, anything could happen.
Comment by Tim Henry on 2 October 2008:
Palin was great! Vote for her!
Comment by Andy on 2 October 2008:
Bots are out in force.
Comment by Andy on 2 October 2008:
Meant to say Obots not just bots. You can’t really sway anyone with your poll, you know. Sarah speaks directly to the American people. Biden and Ifell be damned.
Comment by Bridget Panzer on 2 October 2008:
They both want more of the same. More unending war, more pork barrel no bank left behind bills and most importantly they love Isreal more then America. I am voting for Chuck Baldwin from the constitution party.
Comment by simonr89 on 2 October 2008:
Biden destroyed palin. This election is over. Republicans going down going down going down.
Comment by Dominique O'Connor on 2 October 2008:
I say Palin won that debate. BUT….
She doesn’t head that ticket, McCain does. They support the $700 oops $850 Billion Dollar Bailout against the will of the people. Our Republic and freedom, fellow Americans, is under attack by a domestic terrorist. Our Government is treading on our constitution and “We The People”
Comment by Linda on 2 October 2008:
I am voting for McCain but I thought Biden won that debate hands down. He kept hammering home that McCain and Bush were the same. Palin held her own and, since expectations were so low, maybe that makes her appear to some to have won. Biden actually impressed me and listening to him made you think an Obama presidency wouldn’t be so bad. Too bad it’s not Biden running for president instead of Obama. Obama has the same inexperience as Palin. Can’t let him win.
Comment by garnelson on 2 October 2008:
Wow what a waste of time, it just makes the third party look even better. Why in the vote poll they don’t have “none”?
Both parties want the bail out of the Banksters at the expense of the taxpayer.See who is giving the money to their campains and you will see why the are for the bailout… opensecrets(dot)org
United is right, they are now the same.
WTF vote for Chuck!
VOTE THIRD PARTY!!!
Comment by Dianne on 2 October 2008:
An assurance that comes from the instinctive realm is what brought me to terms with Palin. It was the simple ‘coffee on the table’ down-to-earth, ‘hey I got it’ a propos, and the compelling traditional marriage support that overruled this contesting podium. She knows that there is a Christian copyright on its institution. Yes.
Something held her hand up in spite of many views.
Comment by B Real on 2 October 2008:
Sarah did a great job! PUMA
Comment by Laurie on 2 October 2008:
Sarah Palin may have done well tonight, but I still do not have confidence in the depth of her knowledge, particularly in foreign diplomacy. I have tried to watch the debate with an open mind, and worked hard to watch for telltale signs of change. I’m voting for something new, for someone intelligent, I’m voting for Barack Obama.
Comment by Anne Marie on 2 October 2008:
Who is best qualified to lead this country? It is a question we all must answer. It is an answer that must resonate above personal gain, above gender, above race, above party, and above “politics,” as we know it.
In my opinion, the people most qualified to lead are the ones who put their country above their ambitions. They are people who humble themselves in the service to others, often to their own detriment. They are people who “connect” with the problems of ordinary citizens, who “talk their talk” and “walk their walk.” For, as elected officials, these candidates for whom we vote should represent…all of us…the middle class, the lower class, maybe even the upper class (but we’ve had too much of that recently).
This year, I will not vote for a candidate simply by party, by race, or by gender. I will vote for the candidate who will serve this country and its citizens, instead of himself. That is why I will vote McCain/Palin, even though I have never voted “Republican” ever before. Sometimes, the “cause” is larger than “the self or the party.” This is one of those times. In truth, I would rather vote for a man so scarred by battle that he can barely raise his arms than for a man who embellishes himself with Greek columns, fake presidential seals, and “German world tours.”
The contrast is stark, isn’t it? To Obama, it is all about “me.” To McCain, it is all about “country and sacrifice.” To Palin, it is all about “you,” people she understands, because she is one herself.
Comment by me on 2 October 2008:
Vice President Debate Palin V.S. Biden She Hits It Out The Ball Park!
Alaska Gov. Palin, once again shows how great she will be as our next Vice President of this great country our United States of America! I am so happy to be here and view this fantastic debate tonight mediated by the very fair Gwen Ifill whom I was very impressed with her questioning here at the Washington University in St. Louis Athletic Complex. I will definitely buy her book when it comes out, wow where to begin.
Sen. Joe Biden from Delaware was very decent towards Sarah Palin and was not what so ever degrading towards her and from watching this now I can clearly see he really is taken back by her as he did try many times to stump her but with her fast eye she always came back in full force to slam his pointing the finger right back at him.
Not only has Palin shown leadership by far she has me convinced that there is no doubt what so ever in my mind that she is ready to serve for the people in America. Palin with her beauty took a stand and spoke strong on what she believes in and here is the thing, she meant every word of what she said, I guess that is something you can tell when you hear a lady like her take a stand such as on her views on gay marraige, there was no wishy washy answer she was straight talk just like John McCain and you can see she fully supports John McCain and we the people of the United States and Freedom and equal rights.
Mavericks I will be voting for come this November. Palin hit a grand slam out the park I trust her I believe her and I know she will fight for the people unlike with Biden whom seems only concerned with saying what he can for the win. John McCain has always done what he felt was right for the people of our Country!
The Vice President debate has opened my eyes to see that I was correct in my views that Barack Obama not only has shown poor judgement with those whom have surrounding him his entire life but as well he picked old Biden a man that has been in the White House and served as a nobody for several years he is not all about change Barack Obama and Biden is all about the old politics which Barack Obama swore he would not be, well change my a.
She killed him she really killed Biden I love her & all she stands for!
McCain Palin 08!
Comment by Jeff K. on 3 October 2008:
I am now convinced more than ever that this country needs McCain/Palin! The liberals can try all they want to hang Bush around McCain’s neck but intelligent astute Americans can remember all the praise that has been heaped on McCain by the Dem’s in the past for all the times that he stood up to Bush.I know that McCain/Palin are for us not their election. I am amazed at all the non truths Biden pulled last night, such as the clean coal comment. He says his remarks were taken out of context but I listened to his comments and he said one thing to the people in southern Ohio and then when he was in the coal mining area of PA he said something else. I will not forget all the comments that Biden and Hillary have said about Obama, He is irresponsible and seriously inexperienced at this time to handle the needs of American citizens.
Comment by Kurt Wallace on 3 October 2008:
Republicrats circus production requires no votes just candy apples and a shovel.
Comment by J T Lessard on 3 October 2008:
This is a “test”, to see if the “dumbing down” of America is working. SP was condescending & disrespectful, towards Senator Biden & to US, the American people. She acts as if Alaska is the “throne” of America & she is it’s “queen”. A queen who doesn’t want to protect the animals or natural resources of her land, I might add. She’s not stupid but she isn’t intelligent nor is she sincere. She’s dangerous.
Comment by Annie Sweetie Oakley on 3 October 2008:
Palin won.
Biden tried to impress with a flood of facts (at least 10 were wrong) but came off as boorish and boring.
Palin came across as fresh, full of energy, likable and sincerely interested in helping the American people.
Biden makes me sick everytime he starts up with the Scranton thing. He spends most of his time in Home Depot? Is he getting paid by them for free advertising? I thought he was getting paid to be a senator??
Palin is honest, Biden is a player. First says Obama is not experienced enuf until he gets the chance to run as VP. Then Obama is ok. oh yeah. and ok for Israel.
MCCAIN/PALIN 08!
Comment by Maureen on 3 October 2008:
Palin came across as condescending, and contrived. I couldn’t help but notice the dropping of her “g” was only there when she tried to be folksy. She apparently is able to use the ending ing when she wants to sound intelligent. She reminds me of Bush and his so called Texas drawl that comes and goes when needed.
Her over the top greeting was so false when compared to her total lack of response to Binden’s sadness over the loss daughter and wife and almost of his sons
Comment by Rochester MN on 6 October 2008:
The idea that a candidate can ‘win’ a debate is almost laughable. This isn’t a debate contest, it’s just another tool to try to sway the undecided voter with a candidates chosen message. That is why they didn’t have to actually address the questions asked but could easily move the answer to a related topic for which they had a message and strength.
The brilliant choice of Palin has to do with the fact that people vote for who they ‘like’ and research shows that people like who they identify with. I think a lot of people identify more with Palin than they do with Biden.
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