The problem with lowering expectations is that simply being able to breathe can appear to be evidence of stunning intellectual achievement.
Because McCain had such a horrible week, all he had to do was step onstage at the debate Friday and appear to be coherent and he would be seen as suitably presidential. That's what happened.
(By the way, did you notice that on Wednesday he 'believed' the financial crisis was so severe he had to suspend his campaign and fly to Washington, yet yesterday he spent the whole day in DC and never set foot on the Senate floor?)
With Palin, she has been so unremittingly clueless in her interviews that if she can string together two sentences, one without a slogan, pundits will say she 'reassured' the electorate that she is capable after all.
(By the other way, has there ever been an instance in history where the VP nominee was hidden from the press after the presidential debate, prevented from uttering a single word of commentary?)
I like Biden. He certainly has a base of knowledge, and can be funny and he has been through these debates before. All that should make him a shoo-in to show better than Palin.
But let's be honest. Did he ever win over voters in any of the debates he participated in while running for president? No.
Competence and knowledge from Biden will be seen as failure by the media, and a majority of debate viewers. Just as Obama's calm control was criticzed from the left who wanted him to be mroe passioante. Being able to speak as intelligently as a 5th grader from Palin will be seen as proof she could be president.
Furthur, if Palin directly attacks Biden she will be seen as tough. If Biden responds, even if his attacks are substantive, he will be accused of bullying. Biden has no chance to 'win' this debate because the type of aggressive debating he'd engage in were he debating another man will cause him to be criticised. So in essence, he cannot 'win' this debate.
What he needs to do is be as calm as Katie Couric and hope Palin will hang herself with her own pitard Thursday. Biden can only win by Palin losing.
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It's now being suggested that the next big distraction from the McPalin campaign will be the happy wedding of Bristol and Levi, with worldwide news coverage, of course.
I'm predicting that the happy distraction will take place within days of Mama Sarah's debate debacle. Shift the story-line from Dumb VP to Mother of the Bride.
This will be a new footnote in history: the first time an out of wedlock pregnancy and shotgun wedding has been used to rescue (not ruin) a political campaign.
Yep, that seems to be the plan -- for a wedding-distraction before the election.
A McCain "insider" said: "It would be fantastic. You would have every TV camera there. The entire country would be watching. It would shut down the race for a week."
(reported in The Sunday Times (London)
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