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Sarah Didn’t Gaff By: Amy Vedder  |
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 Were my expectations really set so low that I’m pleased with how Sarah Palin performed in her debate against Joe Biden? I guess they were. And who could blame me. After her disastrous interviews with Katie Couric how could I not be expecting the worst? But Sarah didn’t gaff, she didn’t drool on herself or run from the stage crying, so I guess I can report that I’m pleasantly surprised.
The one thing we did have going for us in this debate was that Joe Biden was definitely more scared of Sarah than Sarah was of Joe. Sarah showed only a surface level of knowledge on the topics she spoke and if Joe had wanted, he could have pried and attempted to get more nuanced and really forced her to get off the talking points, but that could have come off looking arrogant and condescending, so he just didn’t go there.
So Sarah got through the debate with no major gaff. Her oratory didn’t change any opinions or sway any independent voters to vote Republican, but she didn’t have the major collapse that everyone expected.
What she did do was allow the Republican Party to make a collective sigh of relief. It’s also possible that her performance could reverse the trend of the polls which has had voters running from the McCain ticket over the last few weeks. We should see a Republican base that is a little more energized and filled with a little more fire.
Governor Palin’s performance, although far from perfect was also far from imperfect. She stood her ground against a very accomplished and skilled debater. She held her own and was rarely shaken or off message. She calmed the fears Republicans were having about her competence and demonstrated that she is capable of fulfilling the role of Vice President.
Sarah Palin may not have been the best choice of running mate for John McCain, but her performance at the debate proved that she, by far, wasn’t the worst choice either. Does she have some challenges yet to face? Sure she does. There’s still a month to go until the election and Sarah is going to have to meet the press eventually. And that is a forum where she has not excelled. But perhaps that will work out better than it has in the past.
All said and done, we dodged a bullet and lived to fight another day.
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