VP Debate Draws Record 69.9M

Palin didn't lose, didn't win

(NEWSER) - Think Sarah Palin's performance was folksy and colorful last night? Pundits reached to do it justice:

• "I always wondered what a wolverine would sound like chewing through plywood," writes Howard Fineman of Newsweek. "Now I know: like Sarah Palin 'debating' Joe Biden."
• “Somewhere in heaven, Norman Rockwell is smiling,” writes David Brooks in the New York Times.

She succeeded by discussing whichever topic suited her

(NEWSER) - Sarah Palin made last night's debate work for her by answering whichever questions she wanted, not the questions she was asked, writes Christopher Beam in Slate. The Republican seemed to barely notice her opponent and the moderator, at one point telling Joe Biden, "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." More»

Noonan: She's a little transparent but still very effective

(NEWSER) - Sarah Palin starred in her own political "infomercial" last night and once again revived John McCain's flagging campaign, writes Peggy Noonan of the Wall Street Journal. Palin looked "not petrified but peppy," her style far more suited to a debate than a cerebral interview. Biden seemed to be waiting for her to make a fool of herself. She didn’t. Instead, she talked straight to the people in a baldly populist, if transparent, pitch to “soccer moms” and “Joe Six-Pack.” More»

Moderator did nothing to keep debate from being an infomercial

(NEWSER) - 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."

Viewers say Biden better-prepared, Palin more likeable

(NEWSER) - Joe Biden won last night’s debate, polls from CNN and CBS show, but Sarah Palin held her own, improving her image with many responders. Some 51% of viewers polled told CNN that Biden did “the best job,” compared to 36% who preferred Palin. In the CBS poll, uncommitted voters—who may have a preference but aren’t settled on a candidate—said Biden performed better by more than two-to-one. More»