Analysis: Feisty Biden gives Democrats reason to smile

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News Analysis

Vice President Joe Biden spent much of Thursday night's vice presidential debate smiling - often incredulously - at the comments of rival Paul Ryan.

He wasn't the only Democrat smiling.

Thanks to President Obama's widely-panned debate performance last week, supporters of the current administration have been despondent over polls that show Mitt Romney pulling even in the race. It wasn't just that the president's national polling lead had disappeared - it was that the man leading the charge was so passive and passionless when given the chance to make his case to the American people.

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No one is going to accuse Biden of a lack of passion. He dominated the debate: The oft-smirking vice president made a passionate case for the Obama administration's performance over the past four years and regularly interrupted his rival, deeming his claims what "we Irish call...malarkey." After pointing out that Ryan had solicited stimulus funds despite attacking the stimulus package, Biden burst into laughter in response to Ryan's sputtering defense, saying, "I love that, I love that." Republicans immediately deemed the performance "unhinged," but it was a tonic for Democrats: A forceful articulation of the values in which they believe and an unapologetic attack on the Republican argument.

Ryan, for the record, was perfectly fine. Biden kept him on the defensive, but the Wisconsin congressman put in a solid effort. He did nothing to alienate Republicans and had some strong moments that will appeal to the GOP base, chief among them his discussion of his opposition to abortion rights and his charge that the Obama administration had undertaken an "assault on religious liberty" and is "projecting weakness abroad."

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But the night was all about Biden, who challenged everything and gave the sort of passionate appeal to middle-class voters that Democrats have been hungry for ever since the president's bad night last week. While Ryan was disciplined and relentlessly on message, Biden was, for lack of a better word, real - a fighter who appeared genuinely incredulous about what his rival was pushing. Mr. Obama didn't bother to mention Romney's now-infamous "47 percent" comments last week. Biden seemed to bring them up every chance he got.

To understand the feistiness of Biden's performance, consider the conversation about Medicare. After Ryan made the case that the GOP is the better party for protecting the program, Biden appealed to voters to simply "use your common sense," adding that "their party's not been big on Medicare from the beginning." When Ryan said the tight sanctions are in place against Iran "in spite of their opposition," Biden replied, "Oh God." (That was shortly after he said, "I don't know what world this guy's living in.") When Ryan was challenged on his ticket's vow to cut taxes by 20 percent without cutting revenue by eliminating unspecified deductions and loopholes, Biden spoke over Ryan with the words "not mathematically possible."

Some independent voters may be turned off by all this - although a CBS News poll of uncommitted voters who watched the debate picked Biden as the winner 50 percent to 31 percent for Ryan. And most Democrats, based on their comments online during and immediately after the debate, simply ate it up.

A vice presidential debate is not going to change the fundamentals of the presidential race. Early indications are that there was less attention to Thursday's debate than there was last week, and most voters make their choice based on who is at the top of the ticket. But it will help change the narrative, and, just maybe, help Democrats close the enthusiasm gap somewhat in crucial swing states like Colorado and Wisconsin. And after a very rough week for the party, that's got to be considered a victory.

• Fireworks fly at vice presidential debate
• Poll: Biden takes debate over Ryan, uncommitted voters say
• Fact-checking the vice presidential debate
• Full coverage: The Debates

[Bat_Masterson]

Biden looked and sounded like a rude, boorish, bully; and the media and pundits who are giving Biden rave reviews are only encouraging, promoting, and enabling bullying. Biden did not act and speak like a Christian, if anything, he looked and spoke like a communist and satanist.

[talkvent]

Sadly the media glossed over BIden various misses. The reason we couldn't go into Syria was it was bigger than Libya? huh? Or the fabrication of the events around the death of the ambassador...and then pulling the the GOP was being political! And then to throw the intelligence community under the bus. That will come back to haunt him.... And why did Obama apologize about a video that had nothing to do with a protest that didn't occur? The list of mistake is as long as their 3.75 years of doing the wrong thing. Are you guys getting ready to start paying off the $52,000 of deficit every single person in the country OWES? $20,000 of that from OBAMA! Nice to see that JP Morgan is making record money again while Obama racks up another $1 Trillion deficit....at least we know that the money went to the bankers bonuses. Jamie is getting something like $50 Million this year with along with all the free money the FED can print.

[bbglow]

How do politicians live with themselves ...?

[taxlady107]

this man is the definition of "dirty old man" He probably still calls women "sweetie" I would love to knock that smirk off his face.

[Dancing-in-the-Streets]

http://www.salem-news.com/articles/october112012/romney-us-flag-tk.php

U.S. Flag lowered - Chinese flag is flying in its place.....
in Illinois!!!!!!!!!!!!

Because of BAIN! Mitt ROmney's Bain!

Now all of you United States Veterans - you just TELL me this doesn't bother you!!!!

[Dancing-in-the-Streets]

Multiple Dances I see! ; )

[Parker-Ohio]

Dear Spaengin - Please go back and read your comments carefully. There are so many inaccuracies that for a minute I thought you might be our V.P. in disguise. Respectfully submitted.

[Parker-Ohio]

If you voted for Obama in 2008 to prove you're not racist... vote for someone else in 2012 to prove you're not stupid!

[bbglow]

A return to the trust me, I care for you, trickle down politicians of the failed past would be super-stupid ...!

[Parker-Ohio]

Dear BB - I too was an Obama supporter in 2008 - not to prove I wasn't racist, rather because I was fed up with what Bush had done with the trust we had placed in him. However, as an auto worker, I can't stomach the fact that we've spent over 50 billion tax payer dollars "bailing out" the industry while handing over Chrysler to Fiat and the unions. None of this was necessary. Look no further than to Ford who declined any financial assistance. Record profits! They pulled themselves up and did it the 'ol fashioned American way.

[nancy_naive]

We need a financial expert to lead us, say the Rmney supporters.

They're right, but then they pick a guy whose expertise is bankruptcy and outsourcing....

[nancy_naive]

I thought that both men spoke from the heart to the American people. Well, Ryan spoke from the void where a heart would have been.

Ryan did well; he avoided the temptation to read aloud passages from "Atlas Shrugged" and the Bible. Amazing how many on the right are so influenced by works of fiction. Rosebud.

[GOP-R--Con-Men]

Ryan looked like a young con man lying to his older victim hoping he gets away with the scam before the victim realize they've been scammed. However, the victim was laughing and smiling during the scam attempt because he knew he was being scammed / lied too.

Matthew 7:15 Beware of false prophets. They come to you disguised as sheep, but in their hearts are vicious wolves.

Perfectly explains Romney and Ryan as they attack America's social safety net.

[GOP-R--Con-Men]

I hate that I have to point out the GOP's BS.