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Two quick polls indicate that Joe Biden fared better than Sarah Palin in last night's vice presidential debate. CBS and CNN polls each declared Biden the winner. And far more people watched the VP debate than the first presidential debate. Nielsen Research says preliminary ratings show it was one of the most watched political debates in history.
The vice presidential debate served an important purpose. It moved the overall presidential campaign forward with some important themes.
Both Biden and Palin did what they were supposed to do last night: they made the case for their side. One thing we found that it didn't do is change many people's minds about how they're going to vote.
It was one of the most anticipated and watched political events of the season. Joe Biden, the 36-year Washington veteran, said, "I understand what it's like to sit around the kitchen table and listen to a father who says, ‘I gotta leave Champ, because there's no jobs here.'"
He faced the folksy newcomer, Sarah Palin. She said, "Say it ain't so Joe, there you go again pointing backwards."
Lots of people watched, but polls show hardly anyone changed their mind as a result. So what purpose did it serve? Matthew Burbank, a political science professor at the University of Utah, said, "I think for most part both sides came away happy, in part because this doesn't really change anything. And Democrats are happy with that because at the moment they're up in the polls."
Burbank calls Thursday night's debate a "complement" to the overall political campaign. Biden repeatedly tied John McCain to President Bush. Palin pushed the "maverick" theme from the McCain campaign.
It could have been disastrous for Biden if he had come off as a bully or disastrous for Palin if she stumbled too much with her answers. Voters we talked with didn't sense any of that, but they weren't moved to change their minds, either.
Voter David Cunningham said, "Joe Biden, I feel like he did very well because he has a lot of knowledge about what's going on with our economy. And, to be honest, I think Palin scares me a little bit."
Another voter said, "I think it gave me more confidence in McCain and Palin, and kind of their focus and their goals and what they can bring to the table and to Americans."
So now the focus is on the presidential candidates themselves. Sens. Barack Obama and John McCain will face off two more times, first on next Tuesday, Oct. 7, and again on Wednesday, Oct. 15.
E-mail: rpiatt@ksl.com
