PALIN WINS!

(Newser) - Breaking from presidential-campaign habits with a press conference, Sarah Palin thanked supporters, mentioned Joe the Plumber, and dodged the obvious question about 2012 today at the Republican governors confab in Miami, the New York Times reports. “The future is not that 2012 Presidential race, it’s next year and our next budgets,” she said, citing opportunity in 36 gubernatorial races in 2010. More »

(Newser) - Sarah Palin tells the Anchorage Daily News her presidential ticket failed because it too closely reflected the Republican status quo. “Americans were kind of shaking their heads like … how did we run up a $10 trillion debt in a Republican administration? How have there been blunders with war strategy?” Palin says. “It's amazing we did as well as we did.” More »

(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 »

(Newser) - Voter confidence in Sarah Palin's ability to lead has taken a dive, according to the latest Washington Post /ABC News poll. Some 60% of voters now believe she lacks the experience to be president and a third are less inclined to vote for John McCain because she's on the GOP ticket. A month ago she ranked as high as McCain. Palin appears to be hurting the ticket among the key independent and Catholic voting blocs. More »

(Newser) - The biggest challenge that awaits Joe Biden tonight is not to appear sexist and condescending when he faces off against the far less experienced Sarah Palin, reports the Wall Street Journal . Biden plans to avoid the pitfall by emphasizing issues rather than attacking his opponent, said aides. He's preparing for the showdown by debating Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm in practice sessions. More »

(Newser) - Joe Biden will trump Sarah Palin tomorrow night with facts, analysis, and a senatorial track record that leaves her looking green. In other words, he doesn't stand a chance. Take it from Andrew Halcro, a former Alaska state rep who debated Palin dozens of times. "She's a master, not of facts, figures, or insightful policy recommendations, but at the fine art of the nonanswer, the glittering generality," he writes in the Christian Science Monitor . More »

(AP) - After 2 years of stories about bad ratings and an uncertain future, Katie Couric is in the news for a positive reason, the AP reports—her work. Her CBS Evening News interviews with Sarah Palin, Joe Biden, and John McCain have brought the broadcast unprecedented buzz even though, as the New York Times reports, the ratings payoff has been modest at best. More »

(Newser) - Joe Biden is a skilled and captivating speaker but his inability to stop speaking at the right time could turn debate victory into defeat, Katherine Q. Seelye warns in the New York Times. Biden's "gusto and exuberance" could make him seem to be bullying Sarah Palin if he's not careful, and his bluntness could spawn a headline-making gaffe, Seelye writes. More »