Palin's Steady Act All GOP Could Ask For

CBSNews.com Analysis: Alaska Governor Turns In Strong Performance After Shaky Weeks But Biden, Democrats Retain Edge

(CBS)  This analysis was written by CBSNews.com senior political editor Vaughn Ververs.

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Even from the far away campus of Washington University, the sighs of relief from John McCain’s campaign headquarters in Virginia were almost audible. At the end of a high-stakes vice presidential debate, their candidate had passed - if not with flying colors, then at least with a solid grade.

The blank slate that Alaska Governor Sarah Palin has remained for many voters since she was picked out of obscurity was filled in with surprising depth here tonight. After weeks of being sequestered from the media and a series of embarrassing stumbles in the interviews she did grant, Palin shared the stage with Democrat Joe Biden and his 36 years of experience in the United States Senate and, for the most part, held her own.

While there were two candidates on stage, all eyes were fixed squarely on the political newcomer who has energized McCain’s presidential campaign at times, and threatened to help drag it under at others. She turned in a steady performance that should help stabilize a Republican Party that has displayed concern in some quarters about her selection.

Palin relied heavily on her campaign talking points, at times flatly ignoring the direct questions tossed her way. She signaled that would be her approach early on, when after being pressed about McCain’s record on deregulation by Biden, she said, “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.”

But, in the midst of growing questions about her base of knowledge, Palin proved herself to be a quick learner, if nothing else. She demonstrated an ability to thrust and parry on a variety of subjects, at times putting Biden on the defensive. And she did it with the folksy, hockey mom touch that played so well at the Republican convention, but seemed to be laid on a bit heavy for a one-on-one debate.

At times it was effective. At one point in the midst of a foreign policy discussion, Palin allowed, “it's so obvious I'm a Washington outsider. And someone just not used to the way you guys operate. Because here you voted for the war and now you oppose the war. You're one who says, as so many politicians do, I was for it before I was against it or vice-versa.” But more often, with her facial expressions and aw-shucks asides (she even winked at the camera at least twice), it seemed out of place.

But Palin didn’t need to hit this one out of the park, she just needed to be steady and mistake-free, and she largely succeeded.

If Palin was steady, Biden was strong. There aren't many who doubt the Delaware senator’s knowledge on most issues but there have been nervous Democrats who worry about his tendency to go on for too long and step into gaffes in the process. He sometimes seemed conscious about those problem areas, mentioning twice that his allotted time was close to expiring, almost as if to remind himself to stop talking.

But Biden stuck to the Democratic script. He hammered away at McCain on taxes, on the Iraq war and on his connection to President Bush. Both candidates appeared genuinely impressed with one another and the senator avoided one big fear among his backers - coming across as condescending to Palin. Instead, the two all but tripped over one another to shovel out the compliments while keeping their heavy fire concentrated on the tops of the tickets.

And that’s the major reason Biden walked away with the edge in this debate. He showed much more mastery on the issues, but that’s not always a guarantor of success - just ask Al Gore. Biden’s not-so-secret weapon is the fact that voters agree with Democrats on more of the issues than with Republicans, regardless of which candidate is doing the talking. Especially on the economy, the dominant issue of the day.

Not unexpectedly, strategists for both campaigns took to the “spin room” to underscore how pleased they were with their candidates. For Democrats, it was all about keeping the status quo in the campaign, which by all indications favors them.

“We’ve had two debates now,” Obama campaign manager David Plouffe told reporters, “and I think Joe Biden talked a lot about how the middle class is being left behind and Governor Palin, just like John McCain Friday night, offered no new ideas, no real, clear sense of how things are going to change.”

For Republicans, it was about Palin proving herself.

“Winning, for us... is to show that Sarah Palin is a together person who has the understanding of where Senator McCain wants to take the world and the ability to go to Washington to bring about change,” South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham said. And McCain campaign manager Steve Schmidt said Palin did “a tremendous job” because “the American people got to see a Washington outsider who’s ready to be Vice President of the United States, who understands what they’re going through, who’s fluent and conversant on national security, who understands what America’s role in the world is.”

At the very least, Palin’s solid performance should halt the stream of suggestions from Republicans, even some conservatives, that her selection was a mistake. And for a campaign swimming against a strong tide of events and voter sentiment, that’s all they could have asked for Thursday night.

[olivia300]

Sarah Palin''s remarks about Obama are offensive lies to divide the country. WHY does MSM not ask about her close ties to witch-hunter pastor, her use of anti-Semitic sources for quotes she uses, her husband''s and her ties to secessionist party that printed its hatred of US gov''t, her abuse of power and funds in AK? She has no knowledge of history of USA or its foreign policy, US Constitution or Supreme Court, economics, yet she is treated as a credible voice just because she sounds "ordinary" (as though we need someone ordinary to lead this complex nation!) and folksy and winks at people? She is patronizing and would be better served on a reality show! Her ambition is for herself, not our country. I am sick of the hyper-partisan hatred and ignorance she spews. Her messages are disreputable, they do not serve our country well.

[olivia300]

Are you kidding me, a senior reporter says she steadies the Republican party''s efforts? All she did in the debate was wink and spin and avoid questions (cheat) as though she was on a reality show. Also, Sarah Palin''s remarks about Obama are offensive lies to divide the country. WHY does MSM not ask about her close ties to witch-hunter pastor, her use of anti-Semitic sources for quotes she uses, her husband''s and her ties to secessionist party that printed its hatred of US gov''t, her abuse of power and funds in AK? She has no knowledge of history of USA or its foreign policy, US Constitution or Supreme Court, economics, yet she is treated as a credible voice just because she sounds "ordinary" (as though we need someone ordinary to lead this complex nation!) and folksy and winks at people? She is patronizing and would be better served on a reality show! Her ambition is for herself, not our country. I am sick of the hyper-partisan hatred and ignorance she spews. Her messages are disreputable, they do not serve our country well.

[olivia300]

Are you kidding me, a senior reporter (Mr Verver) says Palin steadies the Republican party? It must not take much to do that! All she has to do is get on TV, sound folksy, wink a few times, avoid the questions (cheat) and continue to demonstrate ZERO factual knowledge? Her remarks about Obama are offensive lies to divide the country. WHY does MSM not ask about her close ties to witch-hunter pastor, her use of anti-Semitic sources for quotes she uses, her husband''s and her ties to secessionist party that printed its hatred of US gov''t, her abuse of power and funds in AK? She has no knowledge of history of USA or its foreign policy, US Constitution or Supreme Court, economics, yet she is treated as a credible voice just because she sounds "ordinary" (as though we need someone ordinary to lead this complex nation!) and folksy and winks at people? She is patronizing and would be better served on a reality show! Her ambition is for herself, not our country. I am sick of the hyper-partisan hatred and ignorance she spews. Her messages are disreputable, they do not serve our country well.

[orsand]

SARAH PALIN-*** CHENEY IN A SKIRT.
Rigid, sarcastic, and she states in the debate that she wants to EXPAND THE DUTIES of the Vice-President.
Translation-she wants to finish Cheney''''s attempt to move the VP Office into the Legislative Branch so she can control Congress. Our founding fathers created 3 separate branches for a reason and any idiot knows the Vice-President belongs to the Executive Branch. She has no problem watching Polar Bears begin to drown in her state & yet fight to keep them off the endangered list. This is one power hungry, ruthless B----h. Cheney is hated by most Americans...but God help us all if Palin gets into the White House...

[mh4cbs1]

Palin is an air head. Period.

McCain is an irresponsible idiot for putting her up as VP. I will NOW be voting for Obama, not a hockey Mom Joe Six Pack hick.

Hopefully America won''''t fall for the smears and fears, which is all that McCain/Palin can campaign on. Palin is now running around claiming that Obama "palls around with terrorists!" Sick and Disgusting thing to say, but so typical of the GOP right wing loonies and hatemongers.

[mh4cbs1]

Palin is an air head. Period.

McCain is an irresponsible idiot for putting her up as VP. I will not be voting for Obama, not a hockey Mom Joe Six Pack hick.

Hopefully America won''t fall for the smears and fears, which is all that McCain/Palin can campaign on. Palin is now running around claiming that Obama "palls around with terrorists!" Sick and Disgusting thing to say, but so typical of the GOP right wing loonies and hatemongers.

[mccainisevil]

MY HOLIDAY WITH JOHN McCAIN

http://myblogthebword.blogspot.com/2008/09/my-holiday-with-john-mccain-it-was-just.html

A MUST READ - THIS GUY IS AS SICK AND CREEPY AS IT GETS!!!!

"McCain''s appreciation of the beauty of Asian women was so great that David the American economist had to move his Thai wife to the other side of the table from McCain as McCain kept aggressively flirting with and touching her. Needless to say I was irritated at his large ego and his rude behavior towards his wife and other women, but decided he must have some redeeming qualities as he had adopted a handicapped child from Bangladesh. I asked him about this one day, and his response was shocking: "Oh, that was Cindy''s idea - I didn''t have anything to do with it. She just went and adopted this thing without even asking me. You can''t imagine how people stare when I wheel this ugly, black thing around in a shopping cart in Arizona .

[barbaraf4]

"Which debate did Ververs watch? Certainly not the same one the solid majority of American voters saw. This is your senior political editor? Why is he still trying to put lipstick on a pig by calling her shaky regurgitation of the talking points a "solid performance"?"Posted by HarryDoghiny
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Well said!

[harrydoghiny]

Which debate did Ververs watch? Certainly not the same one the solid majority of American voters saw. This is your senior political editor? Why is he still trying to put lipstick on a pig by calling her shaky regurgitation of the talking points a "solid performance"?

[mike91953]

Yah ... you betcha ... by golly ... doggone it %u2026 say it ain''t so [6-pack] Joe ... ''wink'' ''wink''. The corruption of the Christian Republican Church Party never ceases to amaze me.

[blitzder]

%u201CWith the impacts of climate change, what we can do about that, as governor, I was the first governor to form a climate change subcabinet to start dealing with the impacts.%u201D PALIN during the debate.

%u201CYou know, there are man%u2019s activities that can be contributed to the issues that we%u2019re dealing with now, with these impacts.%u201D Palin with Katie Couric

Another one from the GW school of rubbish. She will make the white house into the bucket of warm spit as VP.

[babooph]

Saw the debate-if I need someone to host a tupperware party -I WANT HER !

[rex76usa]

Shame, shame, shame on Palin.
She says she wants to talk about issues but then lies about Obama being "pals" with the guy from the Weatherman.
That''s all she can do: lie.
She''s got to lie, change the subject because she & McCain are so wrong about the economy.
They want to cut taxes for companies and rich people like those on Wall Street.
The want to loosen regulations on Wall Street so that we continue to have problems like this and even more bailouts!!
She & McCain are shameful!

[rex76usa]

Shame, shame, shame on Palin.
She says she wants to talk about issues but then lies about Obama being "pals" with the guy from the Weatherman.
That''s all she can do: lie.
She''s got to lie, change the subject because she & McCain are so wrong about the economy.
They want to cut taxes for companies and rich people like those on Wall Street.
The want to loosen regulations on Wall Street so that we continue to have problems like this and even more bailouts!!
She & McCain are shameful!

[justsane-2009]

musethalia and tossem, this IS in fact, the direct quote: "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."

you might note that she does NOT say ''the way'', as the two of you maintain. you might also note that it yet another example of gov. palin''s mangling of the english language. after eight years of listening to bush''s tangled tongue, i don''t think we could stand being forced to listen to this woman for the next four.

[kimmyjo4]

THE FACTS OF OBAMA''S POLITICAL CORRUPTION SURE WEIGHS A HECK OF A LOT MORE THAN ANY KOOL AID I''VE EVER DRANK

[kimmyjo4]

OK, IF NOT FOX NEWS PLEASE TELL ME WHO? CERTAINLY NOT
"CLINTON NETWORK NEWS" OR MSNBC..WHO???

[musethalia]

Let''''s see-
The GOP
Grand Oil Party

Was left the highest surplus in history
By none other than
Bad Boy Clinton

And instead gave us
Debt Debt Debt
For Generations
also
Unnecessary war in Iraq
But never caught Bin Ladin

Outsourced Millions of jobs
Gave us A devalued dollar
Loss off Respect Worldwide

But they did give
Tax breaks to the
Oil/Defense Conglomerates

The Choice is clear
Vote GOP
Let them finish off the Country
Vote Mcsame
Voted with Dumbya 90% of the time

Now that''''s change
You can rush to the Closed banks with!!!!!

Posted by web6242a

ridiculous statement - utterly uninformed -

[musethalia]

ok CBS - if you''''re going to put a comment in quotes then you ought to be sure it is accurate.
You attributed this to Palin:
%u201CI 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.%u201D

In reality she said (paraphrasing - I''''m not giving my time to do your work to get this exact) she may not answer the questions THE WAY Biden or the moderator wanted.

Posted by Toss_em_all at 09:16 PM

exactly - I don''t care what the moderator or Biden want to hear - What I want to hear is what she has to say to me, directly, as a voter and taxpayer.

[miles1967-2009]

I am a waiting for my fellow Americans to wake up, shake off the distortions of FoxNews, and begin to weigh the facts instead of drinking the kool aid of the extremist right...but, I have very little hope. PLEASE please please prove me wrong...