VP debate will again feature generational gap

Joe Biden Paul Ryan debate election vice president generic / CBSNews/Getty

For the third time in as many presidential election cycles, the vice-presidential debate on Thursday night will showcase two candidates who came of age -- both personally and politically -- in different eras.

The generational gap between 69-year-old Joe Biden and 42-year-old Paul Ryan may not be at the forefront of either campaign's debate practice sessions, but it is could have an impact on "perception battle" from the moment that the two men take the stage.

In the 2004 VP debate, the age difference between John Edwards and Dick Cheney was a relatively modest 12 years, but the physical distinctions between the youthful, energetic Democrat and the dour, white-haired Republican could hardly have been more striking.

Going into that contest in Cleveland, Edwards -- a charismatic former trial lawyer -- was widely expected to outshine the incumbent with a history of heart problems and a reputation for being proudly cantankerous.

Instead, Cheney more than held his own in a seated format that suited him well. He was able to draw attention to Edwards' status as a relative newcomer on the national political scene via a rehearsed line intended to highlight his opponent's poor Senate attendance record.

"The first time I ever met you was when you walked on the stage tonight," Cheney said to Edwards in one of the debate's most memorable moments.

The assertion was later shown to be technically untrue, but during a debate in which the war in Iraq and other national security-related policies were central topics, it helped reinforce perceptions of Cheney as an experienced Washington hand, while Edwards was untested.

In what was indisputably a "change" election four years later, Sarah Palin sought to turn her relative youth into an advantage. At an Ohio rally three days before she squared off against Biden, the 44-year-old Palin drew attention to her Democratic opponent's senior status.

"I've never met him before," she said of Biden. "But I've been hearing about his Senate speeches since I was in like second grade."

Going into their face-off in St. Louis, Palin benefited from coming into the debate with the lowest expectations of any vice-presidential candidate in memory.

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Her performance, in which she winked for the cameras and avoided answering many of moderator Gwen Ifill's questions directly, was largely deemed a success in light of her ability to stand toe to toe against a Washington fixture who had spent decades steeped in the intricacies of domestic and international policy.

Biden is now four years older, of course, and in Danville, Ky., on Thursday night he will be matched against an opponent two years younger than Palin was in 2008.

To put that age disparity into starker perspective, when Biden was first sworn into the U.S. Senate in 1973, Ryan was not yet 3 years old.

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[tsigili]

As VP, Biden has not only been a buffoon, but a foul-mouthed, embarrassment to the country.

If that is who he was in the Senate......then his state must have had little to choose from!

[tjs723]

I think it's important to realize that if the last 3 GOP presidents had NOT signed TWENTY deficit riddled budget, adding TRILLIONS to the debt, AND had NOT left Obama with a $1.3T deficit BEFORE he even took office, we wouldnt HAVE A DEBT CRISIS!! But, they DID! It was also deliberately constructed plan to mortgage the government to such and entent as to force the privatizing of SS and Medicare. They called their strategy "starve the beast". If course, this debt crisis just happened to endanger our national security, our fiscal stability and our economic future! They played Russian roulette with the country's security so they could funnel all those trillions of dollars to the very same people on Wall St. who collapsed the economy!!Of course, this borders on treason so Im really bothered by the fact that the MSM hasnt given this plan more coverage.

There is a HUGE amount of information regarding this plan online in various news websites! Google is a good way to research "starve the beast"!

[tjs723]

PS.... Paul Ryan voted for EVERY SINGLE PENNY of Bush's spending and debt!!!

[Shallow_LibsAre_Cretins]

So did a lot of Democrats and it didn't come to 5 plus trillion in less tha 3 years like Obama's debt..
So what's your point, TJ?

[Shallow_LibsAre_Cretins]

The only gap out there is between "Chains" Bidens ears.
I can just see the fear of Obama minions, buffoons and Bozos on here waiting for tomorrow night as they watch and cringe in embarrassment as Biden helps Ryan and Romney get another bounce in the polls.

[nancy_naive]

That's Joe "Xerox" Biden to you.

[looneytoonsindville]

Today's story about Obama's gold ring is really bothering me, more than this debate run up. If the story is true, it means that our President has been practicing Taqiyya for a very long time. It would call into question the content of his character, since he has told us for a very long time that he is a practicing Christian. The fact that he is a Muslim wouldn't bother me but having been lied to over the years would bother me. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. said, "I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character". I have sometimes questioned the content of Obama's character based on misleading and downright wrong statements he makes. It often seems that he says the other guy is doing something terrible (that isn't being done) and then he turns around and does the terrible thing himself. If this ring thing is true, then I think he should be stricken from the list of US Presidents.

[Shallow_LibsAre_Cretins]

His his wedding ring missing again for some Muslim Holy day?
LOL!

[GOP-R--Con-Men]

Jesus said of people like Romney & Ryan and their fellow republicans.. "Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them."

Matthew 7:15-20

[GOP-R--Con-Men]

Jesus said of people like Romney & Ryan and their fellow republicans.. "Watch out for false [rophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them."

Matthew 7:15-20

[nirak2-2009]

All Bidenb has to do is be himself. Ryan can't seem to open his mouth without lying.

[nancy_naive]

Ryan will read excerpts of "Atlas Shrugged".

[GOP-R--Con-Men]

I've seen Biden in senate hearings and I know him to be a sharp no non sense interrogator. So those thinking Joe Biden nothing more than a gaffe prone babbling idiot are going to be shocked. I predict Ryan to be handled like a suspect under klieg lights sweating like the political criminal he is.

[nancy_naive]

Social Security, contrary to GOP thinking, is not an entitlement nor a ponzi scheme. It is Income Insurance the same as any Long Term Disability product with a pay-for-life benefit (if you could find one).

Privatization of SocSec will devastate those in the 80% income bracket and below at retirment age because the ONLY way they can match the benefit in a private retirement account is to average upwards of 6 to 10% year-over-year for 40 years.

Those in the upper 10% of income can easily match SocSec with only a 3% average annualized return.

[sjc_1]

401ks were never meant to be a retirement plan to replace defined benefits, they were a give away to a few large corporations that wanted a tax dodge.

[nancy_naive]

Executives thereof.

Most people never take the time to understand the plans available to them.

For certain taxpayers, there is NO difference between a Roth and a Traditional IRA/401(k).

AND, depending on the state in which you work, and to which you retire, a Traditional can SAVE you beaucoup d'bucks.