Palin, Biden Clash In St. Louis Showdown

VP Candidates Spar On Credit Crisis, Foreign Policy, Energy And Taxes In Nationally Televised Debate

(CBS/AP)  Vice presidential candidates Sarah Palin and Joe Biden clashed on the financial crisis, foreign policy, energy and taxes in a nationally televised debate on Thursday night.

Click here to watch video from the debate, plus reaction and analysis.

Palin committed no major mistakes, but CBS News chief Washington correspondent Bob Schieffer gave the edge to Biden.

"I thought Sen. Biden had a very good night," Schieffer said. "Time and again, Gov. Palin would choose not to answer the question."

A CBS News instant poll of uncommitted voters who watched the debate also showed Biden to be the winner by a margin of 46-21 percent. About one-third thought the debate to be a draw.

But Palin's debate performance boosted her standing with these voters. Fifty-five percent said they now thought better of Palin. Fifty-three percent now think better of Biden.

Eighteen percent of the uncommitted voters say they now back Obama. Ten percent say they now support McCain. Seventy-one percent remain uncommitted.

Click here to read more from the poll.

As the much-anticipated debate unfolded, Palin accused Barack Obama of voting against funding for U.S. troops in combat and chastised his Democratic running mate, Biden, for defending the move, "especially with your son in the National Guard" and headed for Iraq.

"John McCain voted against funding for the troops," as well, Biden countered, adding that the Republican presidential candidate had been "dead wrong on the fundamental issues relating to the conduct of the war."

Click here to see fact-checking of this and other claims made during the debate.

Biden did not immediately reply to Palin's mention of his son, Beau, the Delaware attorney general, who is scheduled to fly to Iraq with his National Guard unit on Friday.

Palin also has a son who is serving in Iraq.

The exchange over Iraq was easily the most personal, and among the most pointed, as the two running mates debated for 90 minutes on a stage at Washington University in St. Louis.

They also clashed over energy, the economy, global warming and more in their only debate, with little more than one month remaining in the campaign and McCain struggling to regain his footing.

Biden was scathing in his criticism of McCain's position on the Iraq war, calling him the "odd man out" for his refusal to accept a timeline for the withdrawal of U.S. troops.

But Palin countered that a timetable was tantamount to "a white flag of surrender in Iraq," and at a moment when victory was "within sight."

She also said Biden had once supported McCain's view of the war, and noted that he once said Obama wasn't ready to be commander in chief ... "and I know again that you opposed the move that he made to try to cut off funding for the troops and I respect you for that."

"I don't know how you can defend that position now, but - I know that you know, especially with your son in the National Guard."

As for Obama, Palin said, "Another story there. Anyone I think who can cut off funding for the troops after promising not to - that's another story."

Biden's reply was in clipped tones. "John McCain voted to cut off funding for the troops. Let me say that again. John McCain voted against an amendment containing $1 billion, 600 million dollars" for protective equipment that is "protecting the governor's son and, pray God, my son and a lot of other sons and daughters. He voted against it."

CBSNews.com senior political editor Vaughn Ververs offered this analysis: "There may have been two candidate on stage tonight but all eyes were fixed firmly on the poltiical newcomer from Alaska, whose uneven performances in recent media interviews have raised questions about her qualifications for high office.

"While Palin stuck to her campaign talking points and, at times, veered away from the direct questions, she addressed a range of issues with the kind of specificity voters have not heard from her. It may not be enough to change opinions that have begun to turn against against her, but it could help soothe nervous Republicans who have taken to openly questioning her selection for the ticket."

"Biden proved that he's capable of getting past his penchent for committing gaffes and brought the full force of the three-plus decades in the U.S. Senate to bear in the debate," Ververs said. "He was effective in making his campaign's case against John McCain and avoided looking condescending towards Palin. Palin may have had the most to win or lose but Biden didn't do anything to hurt Barack Obama's cause."

Click here to read more of Ververs' debate analysis: "Palin's Steady Act All GOP Could Ask For".

Palin, who has been governor of her state for less than two years, was under intense pressure to demonstrate a strong grasp of the issues as she stepped onto the stage. Polls show the public has become increasingly skeptical of her readiness for high public office.

As is her custom on the campaign, she spoke in familiar terms, saying "betcha" rather than "bet you" and "gonna" rather than "going to."

She also spoke to the home folks. "Here's a shout-out" to third graders at Gladys Wood Elementary School in Alaska. She said they would all receive extra credit for watching the debate.

"Can I call you Joe?" she asked Biden as they shook hands before taking their places behind identical lecterns.

He readily agreed she could - and she used it to effect more than an hour later. "Say it ain't so, Joe," she said as she smilingly criticized him at one point for focusing his comments on the Bush administration rather than the future.

She made only one obvious stumble, when she twice referred to the top U.S. general in Afghanistan as "Gen. McClellan." In fact, his name is David McKiernan.

Biden's burden was not nearly as fundamental. Although he has long had a reputation for long-windedness, he is a veteran of more than 35 years in the Senate, with a strong knowledge of foreign policy as well as domestic issues.

For much of the evening, the debate unfolded in traditional vice presidential fashion - the running mates praising their own presidential candidate and denigrating the other.

Palin said Obama had voted to raise taxes 94 times - an allegation that Biden disputed and then countered. By the same reckoning, he said, McCain voted "477 times to raise taxes."

They clashed over energy policy, as well, when Palin said Obama's vote for a Bush administration-backed bill granted breaks to the oil industry. By contrast, she said that as governor, she had stood up to the same industry, and noted that McCain had voted against the bill Obama supported.

Biden said that in the past decade, McCain had voted "20 times against funding alternative energy sources and thinks, I guess, the only answer is drill, drill, drill."

"The chant is, 'drill, baby drill,'" Palin countered quickly, unwilling to yield to Biden on that issue - or any other.

On the environment, Palin declined to attribute the cause of climate change to man-made activities alone. "There is something to be said, also, for man's activities, but also for the cyclical temperature changes on our planet," she said, adding that she didn't want to argue about the causes.

Biden said the cause was clearly man-made, and added, "If you don't understand what the cause is, it's virtually impossible to come up with a solution."

[dibs977]

Jealous---no--I''ve got a pretty impressive resume myself and think that I am and many of my friends are much prettier than Palin. She is mean and stupid and I happen to love my country and don''t want her to be a part of it. Plus we are on the edge of an abyss and the Bush machine got us here and she is part of that. Vote for Obama who will bring us back to sanity, prosperity and peace.

[dibs977]

Palin did not get pushed into this position. She said that she did not pause when asked. She jumped at the chance---without thinking. Come on people---she is an embarrassment to our country and it would be funny except she might get to be VP or even President because some people can''t stand other people having differing religious views than theirs. Your religion should be about your soul---leave the rest of us to face our own souls. McCain and Palin will bring our county to doom--further weaken us and we will be attacked and the world will know mothing but war and poverty. She is that incompetent and that stupid. Vote Obama who will lead us back to strength and peace and prosperity.

[LFforMcCain]

The American people need to know what socialist & radical views Mr. Obama may be harboring beneath his fine teleprompter speeches. Sean Hannity on Fox News Channel did a wonderful piece on Obama & his radical friends tonight. Please explain why no one in Obama-medialand is willing to do the same! John McCain & Sarah Palin have every right to help us see the light & put down the kool-aide before it is too late for our country! The information on Obama is all too clear & easily found. Why do you spend more time trying to knock McCain out instead of protecting the American people from the radical left!? You%u2019re supposed to report the news, not sway the election.

[zavier01]

I believe she is more qualified as VP to run the country than Obama is as president.


Is Sarah Palin qualified to stand one heartbeat away from the oval office? You betcha! And if you believe that, I know a whole lot of people who have bridges they want to sell you. ;););)


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Posted by JAB232 at 04:42 PM : Oct 04, 2008

[kopana]

The Mcsame campaign is getting very desperate...they play very very dirty.VP is supposed to play attack dog and this is just the beginning of the negative campaign against Obama...

Palin is just a very dangerous woman..who want to expand VP powers outside of what the U.S. Consitution states... hockey mom my foot...she is just power hungry.

Vote smarter OBAMA/BIDEN, Bring Back our country!!

[jab232]

Is Sarah Palin qualified to stand one heartbeat away from the oval office? You betcha! And if you believe that, I know a whole lot of people who have bridges they want to sell you. ;););)

[mitch5511]

Palin is the "lipstick" on McPig!!!!!

[jackiean1]

Will Biden and/or CBS condemn NBC for going to Hanoi to try and Swiftboat Senator McCain?

This is an outrage.
Senator McCain suffered and bled for his country.
This is a betrayal of all our troops and Veterans.
This is no different from what Jane Fonda did.

They do not have Freedom of Speech in Viet Nam.
The communists won that war
The man they interviewed could NOT tell the truth about the tourture
and NBC knows it.
They have turned our airwaves into a propaganda instrument for the communists.

This is worse than jouralistic malpractice this is TREASON.

They need to be charged and tried for it.

http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/home/daily/site_100108/content/01125108.guest.html

[andor3]

"Women Unite! Obama and the Democratic Party Hate Women! Never forget what they did to Hillary!"

Hmm so this what a desperate Republican who thinks women are easily swayed by emotion looks like....

[andor3]

"Come on, you have to admit it. Palin is adorable. "
adorable? no. scary? yes. She is a classic narcissist: she feels like she is special and the rules do not apply to her (like why answer the debate questions just because you agreed to and the other guy has to?). She expects unquestioned loyalty and turns on anyone who questions her (troopergate oh yeah). And perhaps most telling, she has no capacity for self-doubt, which comes across as confidence and self-assurance, even when not being honest. The topper: Remember when the moderator asked each candidate to name a time they had been wrong? She could not even understand the question... just like GWB.

[mairin27]

Chemo? I wish you luck whatever is wrong with you.



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Posted by amrt5016 at 10:02 PM : Oct 03, 2008

Ditto from me even though we disagree.

[amrt5016]

Hey, what happened to Salih-Ibn? Maybe looking up some more stuff on Israel. Oh well. I have to go. Time for my chemo. Good night all.
Posted by proisrael at 09:56 PM : Oct 03, 2008

Chemo? I wish you luck whatever is wrong with you.

[mairin27]

You are jealous
Posted by BagdadsHere4 at 09:45 PM : Oct 03, 2008

And of course you must be a man. Because if an intelligent woman dares disagree with you/your position/or another woman then we are petty and jealous. You and your Neaderthal way of thinking should go back from whence you came- the stone age.

[kc629]

not being one of many not as "one of us" she is typical and frankly embarrassing as an american she cant even think of one supeme court case she DOESNT KNOW OUR HISTORY she is an idiot she cant even think of a newspaper! how american is that!
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Posted by kc629 at 09:51 PM : Oct 03, 2008

So, I have a narcotics teacher that doesn''''t know how to explain how neurotransmitters work. we skipped two chapters because she could not explain it. Fortunately, I know all about neurotransmitters and I didn''''t care.



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Posted by proisrael at 09:54 PM : Oct 03, 2008


so you are defending your ill-informed teacher?

[kc629]

if i hear the word "maverick" come out of Palins mouth one more time i might PUKE!
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Posted by kc629 at 09:46 PM : Oct 03, 2008

MAVERICK!


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Posted by proisrael at 09:51 PM : Oct 03, 2008


just saying how FAKE and stupid she is she cant even think of a newspaper! or a court case! SHE DOESNT KNOW OUR HISTORY there are 670,000 people in the WHOLE state of alaska WHAT HAS SHE DONE! there are 27 million poeple living in NYC what experience does she have one campaign photo op probably has mroe people than her whole state she is pathetic!

[amrt5016]

I think you should cut her some slack. She just kind of got pushed into this position. Even Hillary Clinton praised her.
Posted by proisrael at 09:50 PM : Oct 03, 2008

I''d probably do that if there was no one better. And, hey, we''re talking about who will run this country in the next four years. It is too important a matter to demand nothing but the best in the field.

[mairin27]

Um.....because being adorable it not enough reason to vote for her. Because she is an affront to any number of qualified women John McCain could have chosen. Because wink, wink doesn''''''''t do it for me. I like women who would choose substance over style.

Posted by mairin27 at 09:39 PM : Oct 03, 2008
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You are jealous. Sarah Palin has both substance and style. People are falling in love with her because of her ideas and beliefs. She"s all America stands for: intelligent,classy,warm,tough,patriot and beautiful.

Posted by BagdadsHere4 at 09:45 PM : Oct 03, 2008

No sir not jealous. I too have substance and style. I can speak for myself and do not need to stick to scripted answers. Cojent answers. I was offended that Mr. McCain had to go and sit with her to do damage control over that abysmal failure of an interview. She did little to change my mind, hey Ms. Iffel I don''t have a pat answer that was spoonfed to me so I won''t be answering it.

[cbs_katie]

Everyone knows now Katie is a disciple of Dan Rather!
She is not a journalist but a politician after Dans deceitfulness of bearing false witness against Bush! She does it against Sarah!

[kc629]

not being one of many not as "one of us" she is typical and frankly embarrassing as an american she cant even think of one supeme court case she DOESNT KNOW OUR HISTORY she is an idiot she cant even think of a newspaper! how american is that!

[kc629]

Um.....because being adorable it not enough reason to vote for her. Because she is an affront to any number of qualified women John McCain could have chosen. Because wink, wink doesn''''''''t do it for me. I like women who would choose substance over style.

Posted by mairin27 at 09:39 PM : Oct 03, 2008
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You are jealous. Sarah Palin has both substance and style. People are falling in love with her because of her ideas and beliefs. She"s all America stands for: intelligent,classy,warm,tough,patriot and beautiful.


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Posted by BagdadsHere4 at 09:45 PM : Oct 03, 2008



I guess we disagree the candidate who will win my vote will have to ANSWER QUESTIONS about the issues america is about standing ABOVE