Obama campaign calls Palin 'a terrific debater'

[kaydee457 13]

The format has been changed to make it easier for Sarah. She should win handily

At the insistence of the McCain campaign, the Oct. 2 debate between the Republican nominee for vice president, Gov. Sarah Palin, and her Democratic rival, Senator Joseph R. Biden Jr., will have shorter question-and-answer segments than those for the presidential nominees, the advisers said. There will also be much less opportunity for free-wheeling, direct exchanges between the running mates.

McCain advisers said they had been concerned that a loose format could leave Ms. Palin, a relatively inexperienced debater, at a disadvantage and largely on the defensive.

Well, I look at this as a clear advantage for Joe.....less of a chance he'll go off on some moronic tirade about patriotism and taxes, tv's and such...........he's such an uninformed jerk!

I'm sure the Obama campaign is more about keeping Joe's mouth shut and under control than giving Sarah any advantage......

[AlHayatZween 2]

The format has been changed to make it easier for Sarah. She should win handily

At the insistence of the McCain campaign, the Oct. 2 debate between the Republican nominee for vice president, Gov. Sarah Palin, and her Democratic rival, Senator Joseph R. Biden Jr., will have shorter question-and-answer segments than those for the presidential nominees, the advisers said. There will also be much less opportunity for free-wheeling, direct exchanges between the running mates.

McCain advisers said they had been concerned that a loose format could leave Ms. Palin, a relatively inexperienced debater, at a disadvantage and largely on the defensive.

[symbiosis 0]

Obama campaign manager David Plouffe told reporters Saturday that Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, the Republican vice presidential nominee, is “a terrific debater” who could give Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Joe Biden (D-Del.) a run for his money when they meet Thursday.

“We’ve looked at tapes of Gov. Palin’s debates, and she’s a terrific debater,” Plouffe told reporters on a conference call. “She has performed very, very well. She’s obviously a skilled speaker. We expect she’ll give a great performance next Thursday. “

The single vice presidential debate will be at 9 p.m. Eastern on Thursday at Washington University in St. Louis.

Lowering expectations is a common campaign practice before a debate. But the Obama campaign's claims will surprise the Republicans who have begun to fear the debate following Palin’s performance in network interviews. The Obama campaign says they have nothing to worry about.

Some Democrats were worried that Biden would have to hold back to avoid running up the score. But they shouldn’t fret, either.

“She’s obviously prepping this weekend in Pennsylvania,” Plouffe continued. “Anyone who watches any of her previous debates would be impressed by her debating skills.”

Obama national press secretary Bill Burton added: “What’s missing is knowing where she stands on a lot of the important issues that will come up at the debate. Preparing to debate against someone who is really largely unknown, who’s spent so much time preparing for the debate, will be a real challenge.

“She’s not out there on the stump that much. She’s not doing a whole lot of interviews. So she’s spending a whole lot of time — hours and hours a day, apparently — preparing for this debate. And we suspect that she’ll come in fighting form.”

source

it's just the expectations game. The expectations for her vs. Biden are now so low that she can win the debate simply by not misidentifying the French capital, or some such. So, Obama's camp needs to raise expectations so the bar for a Palin "win" is much higher.

This is just Political Campaigning 101

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

I'll bet she's a master debater.

Would I be off-kilter to raise a Roger Moore-esque eyebrow at that?

[IAMX 3,055]

The format has been changed to make it easier for Sarah. She should win handily

At the insistence of the McCain campaign, the Oct. 2 debate between the Republican nominee for vice president, Gov. Sarah Palin, and her Democratic rival, Senator Joseph R. Biden Jr., will have shorter question-and-answer segments than those for the presidential nominees, the advisers said. There will also be much less opportunity for free-wheeling, direct exchanges between the running mates.

McCain advisers said they had been concerned that a loose format could leave Ms. Palin, a relatively inexperienced debater, at a disadvantage and largely on the defensive.

Wouldn't want her looking like more of a dumbass in front of the country again, would we?

Yes, let's dumb down the debates a bit for Sarah. As if they're not already enough of a joke.

Edited September 29, 2008 by SRVT

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Sadly that's what really undermines the idea of having a debate in the first place. Everything is stage-managed to the nth degree.

[EstebanTrabajos 7]

Titanic effect

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

I honestly don't see why the campaigns should have any influence whatsoever over the format or style of the debates.

[Peikko 1,575]

American politicians, masters of illusion. Are they all members of the Magic Circle?

[Jimmy and Angela 0]

McCain/Palin 08

I think Sarah will do just fine. She is the only honest person in the campaign.

[IAMX 3,055]

McCain/Palin 08

I think Sarah will do just fine. She is the only honest person in the campaign.

You better hope McCain kicks the bucket rather quickly then.

Then you have Legally Blonde 3 for President.

Edited September 29, 2008 by SRVT

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

American politicians, masters of illusion. Are they all members of the Magic Circle?

I haven't seen any hanging upside down in Central Park, but some of them could certainly do with being strung up by the thumbs

I think Sarah will do just fine. She is the only honest person in the campaign.

Honestly clueless.

[lucyrich 20]

It's the same game high school atheletic coaches play. Before the game, you ALWAYS talk about how good your opponent is. It is NEVER to your advantage to boast about how you'll have an easy time winning the upcoming game, even if that's what you're secretly thinking.

If you diss your opponent and then win, you've already devalued the win. If you diss your opponent and then lose, you've magnified the horror of the loss. But if you praise your opponent and win, you've magnified the value of the win, and if you praise the opponent before you lose, you've slightly lessened the impact of the loss.

[EstebanTrabajos 7]

Typo: Terrific

Correction: Terrible

Stupid intern forgot to proofread the final draft...SORRY!

Edited September 29, 2008 by GueraYTavo

[Chica Yeyé 41]

McCain/Palin 08

I think Sarah will do just fine. She is the only honest person in the campaign.

You better hope McCain kicks the bucket rather quickly then.

Then you have Legally Blonde 3 for President.

Hey! Respect here. Ms. Whitherspoon aka Legally Blonde went to Harvard Law