VP Debate Pictures
Democrat Joe Biden and Republican Sarah Palin went head to head in their first and only vice presidential debate in St. Louis on Thursday, clashing on the economy, energy issues and foreign policy. Here, the candidates greet each other at the start of the highly anticipated showdown.
Scott Olson, Getty Images
The debate at Washington University in St. Louis marked the first meeting of the vice presidential candidates. "Can I call you Joe?" Palin asked Biden, who approved.
Don Emmert, AP
The stakes were particularly high for Palin, who has served as governor of Alaska for less than two years. Polls show the public has become more skeptical of her ability to handle the vice presidency. Palin made only one obvious stumble, when she twice referred to Gen. David McKiernan, the top U.S. general in Afghanistan, as "Gen. McClellan."
Rick Wilking, Pool / Getty Images
The pressure was less intense for Biden, a veteran of more than 35 years in the Senate.
Ron Edmonds, AP
The economy quickly took center stage, with both candidates weighing in on the financial crisis and the bailout bill awaiting congressional approval. "The economic policies of the last eight years have been the worst economic policies we've ever had," Biden said.
Rick Wilking, Reuters
Palin said one way to gauge the economic times would be to attend a child's soccer game and listen to parents. "I betcha you're going to hear some fear," she said.
Ron Edmonds, AP
Later, the tone became more heated when the topic turned to the Iraq war. Biden said that he and Barack Obama will be the administration to end the war and said John McCain had been "dead wrong" about the conflict. "For John McCain there is no end in sight to end this war -- fundamental difference," he said.
David McNew, Getty Images
Palin countered that Obama's exit plan was essentially "a white flag of surrender in Iraq" at a moment when victory was "within sight." She also said Biden had once supported McCain's view of the war.
J. Scott Applewhite, AP
Palin got some bad news just before the debate, when an Alaska judge threw out a lawsuit filed by Republicans seeking to stop an abuse-of-power investigation aimed at her. Here, Palin looks on from the side prior to taking the stage.
Chip Somodevilla, Getty Images
Palin and Biden smile after the conclusion of the debate.
Ron Edmonds, AP
This one was not close. Yes Palin is attractive, spunky, an energetic communicator and extraordinarily confident. Personally, I find "confident dodging" an unusual strategy when trying to convince the majority of Americans that you are the best person to serve a heartbeat away from the presidency. What was that soccer game comment regarding the bailout?
Senator Joseph Biden stuck to the facts and kept bringing in Senator Barack Obama's policies while Governor Sarah Palin seemed to talk mainly about energy and her record. She defended the top of her ticket as a maverick, but only when she was pressed to do so.
There were a few moments that jumped out to me. The first was when Governor Palin told moderator Gwen Ifill and her competitor Senator Biden that she would answer questions the way she wanted to or not at all. Huh? ...
And I want to let you know what I did as a mayor and as a governor. And I may not answer the questions that either the moderator or you want to hear, but I'm going to talk straight to the American people and let them know my track record also.
Then there was the l-o-n-g overdue moment when Sen. Biden finally pushed back on this mythical observation that John McCain is still a "maverick," if you believe, as I do, that he once was one.
Look, the maverick -- let's talk about the maverick John McCain is.
And, again, I love him. He's been a maverick on some issues, but he has been no maverick on the things that matter to people's lives. He voted four out of five times for George Bush's budget, which put us a half a trillion dollars in debt this year and over $3 trillion in debt since he's got there.
He has not been a maverick in providing health care for people. He has voted against -- he voted including another 3.6 million children in coverage of the existing health care plan, when he voted in the United States Senate.
He's not been a maverick when it comes to education. He has not supported tax cuts and significant changes for people being able to send their kids to college.
He's not been a maverick on the war. He's not been a maverick on virtually anything that genuinely affects the things that people really talk about around their kitchen table.
(edit)
So maverick he is not on the important, critical issues that affect people at that kitchen table.
But when Senator Joe Biden choked up while talking about his late wife and child and being a single father, my heart was on my sleeve. And from where I sat, that moment of humanity sealed Biden's win.
"The notion somehow that because I'm a man I don't know what it's like to raise two kids alone, I don't know what it's like to have a child you're not sure is going to make it..." he said, pausing briefly to compose himself.
"I understand. I understand."
Here's the point: You don't have to flaunt a lack of knowledge to be a "real person." Since when in American culture did being well-informed equal being disconnected or callous?
More Debate and Election Coverage
+ Palin, Biden Throw Down On Economy, Iraq
+ Palin Avoids Blunders, Biden Gives Solid Answers
+ Watch Full Debate
Community Discussion
+ Sarah Palin Won The Debate
+ It's On .... Biden vs Palin
+ Who's Better Sarah Palin or Hilliary Clinton?
Comments: (58)
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By: Dmitriy on 10/03/2008 4:29AM
Right.
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By: Badbns on 10/05/2008 12:29AM
I thought they both did a good job, but I think Palin did a better job. As far as answering questions her way, my take on her response was that she would answer the questions from her heart instead of telling folks what they want to hear. Took control of her answers and showed leadership.
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By: Martin Zelaya on 10/03/2008 2:50AM
Well aol, I've no negatives on this article.
I think we all agree on this one.
Keep up the good work.
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By: Lranee on 10/03/2008 3:02AM
Gov Palin was so disrespectful in stating that she would not answer the questions then ending saying she would not speak to the media...wtf?! she is a lightweight, and so clueless to what this country needs.
Sen Biden did great and clearly won but the media will focus on how "proud" they are of "Sarah standing up straight" and yes Biden's choke up was overwhelmingly heart felt, Fox news will probably negatively exploit that moment but it will backfire because that struck a cord with so many viewers
Obama/Biden ya'll!!!!
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By: RC on 10/03/2008 3:36AM
Joe Biden won the debate. Sarah Palin is an airhead, who thinks she is so together. Oh, PLEASE!!! There are better, more competent women in politics, who would have been better candidates for vice president. What was McCain thinking? His choice of Sarah Palin screams his judgement is flawed. Although, I would not vote for him anyway, it concerns me that some people seem to feel McCain, who insisted Barack Obama didn't understand, fails to see that most people cannot understand his choice of the person to be his vice president.
BARACK OBAMA/JOE BIDEN '08 YES!!!
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By: Martin Zelaya on 10/03/2008 3:38AM
I do have something to say about the community discussion on sarah palin winning the debate.
You have to respect feminism in america.
Girls stick together no matter what!
Aol, to my knowledge,so far, is the only in media that reported it as most of wittnessed.
We(unfortunately) in this country have never recieved any training in debating (unlike in europe).
A debator is qualified by the content of their argument and their grasp of the facts with respect to the question.
Since most americans are not savvy in proffesional debating, some of us were not aware that sarah both had minimal experience in debating and unawareness of the constitutional laws governing the vice presidential seat.
Europeans have made the comment that they find obama to be like a european.
Meaning that they acknowledge his fine training and education.
People of color are not aware of the compliment they have been payed.
Most of the politicians (like bush) have never been so honored by the highly cultivated europeans.
Billionaire Jim Rogers has recently said, that he would much rather have the bank of england running the central bank.
Jim Rogers has recently relocated to singapore, losing all faith in american goverment.
Obama is correct, america needs a makeover in global image.
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By: Analyst on 10/03/2008 6:47AM
There is a new kid in national politics town and the name is Sarah Palin. I've liked her from first sight and having a mentally impaired child in the family she won my heart promising to be the tip of the spear in this kind of family support knowing personally what it means. She is a hard nose politician of the kind that grabs your attention and want let go. Several times Biden could only muster a laugh when she charmingly reminded him how he recently was one of Obama's hardest critics and McCain's solid supporters even bringing up how he once said he wouldn't mind being on a McCain ticket. Gov. Palin talked straight into the camera to all Americans. She was polite in handling Biden but every once and awhile she made a slip of the tongue that made me believe she has a vocabulary that is not to lady like to handle herself in a political scrap. She is the iron lady to me. Who could have thought that it would be a young woman like Gov. Palin to spark new life into American politics and bring to mind the glory days of down to earth politicians Earl Long and the likes of Harry S. Truman. Sarah Palin had already caught my eye and now she has caught my vote.
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By: American and Proud on 10/03/2008 7:10AM
in all reality Sarah Palin is a woman with her own agenda. she wishes to be president and she know John McCain is the best way to do that without actually EARNING the title. Biden is the more experienced and in all reality, the better choice for a vice president. i have nothing against women, i love women it is just that this woman is, in my opinion incapable of handling the job. best of wishes Senator Biden and Senator Obama
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By: G.REDD on 10/03/2008 7:30AM
THE DEBATE WAS ACADEMIC AND EMBARRASSINGLY
SO, THE WOMAN IS A LIGHT WEIGHT IN A HEAVY-WEIGHT CLASS. IT ASTOUNDS ME THAT JOHN MC CAIN WOULD TOUT HER AS THE BEST THE REPUBLICAN PARTY CAN DO FOR A VICE PRESIDENTIAL RUNNING MATE. SHE MAY BE CUTE BUT, I DON'T WANT HER CUTE LITTLE FINGER ON THE BUTTON WHEN THE S--- HITS THE FAN.
IT IS AN INSULT TO THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE WORKED LONG AND HARD TO PUT THEMSELVES IN A POSITION TO BE ABLE TO STEP INTO THE ROLE OF VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, LIKE JOE BIDEN, TO HAVE TO TRADE INTELLECTUAL PROSE WITH THIS KNOW NOTHING INDIVIDUAL.
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By: ikeblack on 10/03/2008 8:58AM
she refused to answer the questions, and she wants to change the constitution allowing more power for the V.P. How can you interview for the second most powerful job in america and refuse to answer the questions that decide if you get the job or not?
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