Biggest Loser in VP Debate Was Gwen Ifill

Last night's debate will provide "no fundamental change" in the race, writes James Fallows in the Atlantic, which is much better news for Obama than McCain. Here are some other quick takes from Fallows:

• Moderator Gwen Ifill was "terrible." She seemed not to care at all about "looking for ways to follow up the unanswered questions or self contradictory answers."

• Sarah Palin "beat expectations." She knew she could get in all her talking points without any guff from Ifill, and she did so with "spunk" and without looking "poleaxed."
• Biden had "no mistakes," no small thing. He could "easily have seemed bullying, condescending, chauvinistic, or whatever." Instead, he was "commanding and authoritative."
• As a debate, the match clearly went to Biden. The senator used real evidence to make relevant points. But, Fallows notes, "this is not how the event was being watched or scored."

(More Sarah Palin stories.)