Stephanopoulos: Palin Can't Afford a Debate Mistake

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Stephanopoulos: Palin Can't Afford a Debate Mistake

September 29, 2008 8:31 AM

ABC News' George Stephanopoulos reports: At Thursday night's vice presidential debate between Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin and Sen. Joe Biden, D-Dela., in St. Louis, Palin cannot afford to make a mistake.

A major mistake, particularly on foreign policy, would be absolutely fatal to her candidacy.

Palin must also avoid what we've seen from her in recent media interviews: those deer in the headlight moments where it seems like she doesn't know what to say.

Watch for Palin to come out aggressively against Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama, McCain campaign officials told ABC News.

Part of Palin's strategy will be to call Obama out as a liberal, putting him on the defensive so that Biden will have to answer for Obama.

The McCain campaign is bringing in some heavy hitters to prepare Palin this week for the debate, which will be held in St. Louis, Missouri.

Less than a month ago, Sen. John McCain was applauded by Republican conservatives for his selection of Palin as his vice presidential candidate.

However the reaction among some conservatives has turned bad. There are lots of second thoughts now about her selection within the conservative community, and the buzz on Palin has gone all bad.

When you become a punch line in politics, it's one of the worst things that could happen, and that's what's happening to Palin now.

It's something she should address in the debate this Thursday.

When Palin was first picked, she was a huge boost to McCain's presidential candidacy.

But her favorability numbers have gone down from 58 percent on Sept. 7 to 52 percent, according to the latest ABC News/Washington Post poll.

Even more important are voter perceptions of her qualifications to be president.

The number of people who say she's not qualified to be vice president is going up. Almost half the country, 49 percent, say she's not qualified, compared to only 21 percent for Biden, according to the latest ABC News/Washington Post poll.

But the degree of difficultly for Thursday night's debate will be high for Biden as well.

It's always difficult in these debates, particularly for someone like Biden, not to appear too aggressive, or too boorish, and he's got to be careful about that.

On the other hand, Biden has to make his points about why he would be a better vice president that Palin.

Both sides are hunkering down right now getting ready for this debate. It's going to be a big deal.

The Democrats have the momentum after Friday night's first Democratic presidential debate.
Recent national polls coming out over the last three days point to Obama as the first debate winner.

The most recent is the USA Today/Gallup poll released today which shows 46 percent of people though Obama won and 34 said McCain won.

That corresponds with national polls coming out over the weekend which show Obama either holding or decreasing his lead over McCain.

Over the course of the first presidential debate, Obama didn't make any major mistakes and he showed he can hold his own on foreign policy.

Even though both did well, Obama came into the debate with momentum and a country primed to vote for a candidate who can deliver change. Therefore, in a close debate, voters are perceiving Obama as the winner.

The vice presidential candidates will likely have to deal with questions about the controversial $700 economic rescue package that was hammered out on Capitol Hill over the weekend.

The House takes up debate on the bill today, and a top House Democrat late last night said they were very pleased with the deal reached with House Republicans who has floated their own plan late last week.

While the bailout is likely to pass in both the House and the Senate, no one on Capitol Hill wants to vote for it.

Even if the bill gets through the House of Representatives, it's going to be a close vote. There will likely not be a vote on the package in the Senate until Wednesday.

September 29, 2008 in McCain, John, Obama, Barack, Palin, Sarah, Vote 2008: Democrats, Vote 2008: Republicans | Permalink | User Comments (508)

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The day after the RNC convention I predicted to my friends Ms Palin would bow out by Oct 15. I never believed she was intended to make the final run to the White House with McSilly aka McChicken Old Man. Another Gov. is poised and ready and this was McChilly's Shock and Awe GOTCHA to get the spotlight back on him. It initially caused utter salivation from the Republican faithful, but now they’re looking at each other saying WTF? She’s a disaster! Uhh Ohh...

For McCain’s next “rushed” magic act, sadly the Palin's tiny son will become ill (or perhaps another manufactured crisis) and only a mother's love will save the day. Go home Mama Moose take care of your calf and let America move on. Frankly you have more baggage than a Greyhound bus. We wish you well and admire your moxie BUT all good things must come to an end. You are becoming a perfect example of what a pimp does to a trick in feeding her false hopes. I’m sorry, but that moose just can’t grunt.

YOU will be gracious and we, err..."liberals" will be kind because we too believe family should be first! (Wink, Wink)

This is going to be a LANDSLIDE.
Obama/Biden 08

Posted by: Nat Turner | Sep 29, 2008 9:21:03 AM

I would like to know how John Mc Cain and Sarah Palin are going to pay for programs that they want to implement when elected without raising taxes.

Thanks

Posted by: DAVID BRADEN | Sep 29, 2008 9:22:20 AM

Posted by: mtr2311 | Sep 29, 2008 9:19:53 AM
Obama has been scrutinized by the media as an empty suit and like it or not,

When was this the mass media treats him like he is the second comming??They throw him pitches like I used to for my son in tee ball.

Posted by: reddog0216 | Sep 29, 2008 9:23:03 AM

John McCain:
"For my next magic trick, errrr, STUNT, I'll make my current VP selection disappear and a new one will appear in the form of Rudy Gulliani"! Aaaaand a one! Aaaaaand a two! Aaaaala peanut butter saaaaaandwicheeeeeeeeeees! Waahlaah!

She’ll be “taken care of” and “erased” in a couple of weeks. With a shotgun wedding coming up for her daughter, she’s just too busy!!!!! Hey, where’s Carly Fiorino??? Did she have an “accident” too?

THIS IS TOO FUNNY!

Obama/Biden - It's a Lock

Posted by: Nat Turner | Sep 29, 2008 9:23:27 AM

Dear Gov. Rendell,

Since I have read that you are now a member of Barack Obama’s truth squad, I am hoping that you will spread that sentiment both ways. I would like you to talk about Obama’s trip to Iraq and his conversation with Hoshyar Zebari which I and many other Americans is a violation of the Logan Act. I would also like you to bring to light his 500 thousand plus contributions from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. I would like you to tell your constituents about the Phillip Berg lawsuit which alleges Obama unqualified to run for President based on his dual citizenship. I would like you to relay the truth behind Obama’s questionable associations with convicted domestic terrorist William Ayers. Maybe show some of Reverand Wright’s sermons at your next press conference? Or perhaps bring up some facts from Dr. Lynette Long’s research into the Obama camp’s caucus fraud in Texas. Speaking of caucus fraud, how about Obama’s involvement with ACORN?

I am counting on you, Governor Rendell to do your truth squad duty!

Posted by: HP Boston | Sep 29, 2008 9:23:28 AM

Dear Gov. Rendell,

I am counting on you, Governor Rendell to do your truth squad duty!

Posted by: HP Boston | Sep 29, 2008 9:24:36 AM

I would like to know how John Mc Cain and Sarah Palin are going to pay for programs that they want to implement when elected without raising taxes.

Thanks

Posted by: DAVID BRADEN | Sep 29, 2008 9:22:20 AM
Cutting the fat in washington reduce spending and when you cut taxes people have more money to spend which increases revunue

Posted by: reddog0216 | Sep 29, 2008 9:25:08 AM

THIS IS TOO FUNNY!

Obama/Biden - It's a Lock

Posted by: Nat Turner | Sep 29, 2008 9:26:37 AM

The difference between gaffe-ridden Joe and moose-in-the-headlights Palin is that Joe admits it when he says something stupid, and he has some knowledge of the broader context of things. Palin keeps on talking, then defends her insubstantial talking points even after the truth has been pointed out (We can SEE Russia in Alaska, this makes me a GREAT foreign policy maven, really, it does!!! So what if I can't be bothered to actually cross that tiny little maritime border... Why are you all laughing?).

She is no longer the big fish in the little pond and she knows it.. And the moose-in-the-headlights look is far from gone I'm sure.

Posted by: Petra | Sep 29, 2008 9:26:44 AM

Palin to be replaced by startled deer.
More as this story develops!

Posted by: Gus | Sep 29, 2008 9:26:59 AM

You people show miss palin some respect, Miss palin can see the Hospital from her hotel room , Which word is she is qualify to perform a HEART transplant, which will take place around noonish.

Posted by: toyken | Sep 29, 2008 9:28:02 AM

People seem to forget what a good grasp Palin has on the Obama/Biden team's shortcomings that were enumerated many times during her convention speech.

Now she has a few more to add to her pile:

If that is the case, Senator, why did both you AND your running mate vote in favor of the Bridge to Nowhere that I declined to build?

Why are you opposed to using clean coal as an energy alternative?

As a matter of fact, Senator, Hillary would have been the BETTER choice.

Tell me again, Senator, about your sniper fire experience in Afghanistan?

Posted by: Lee | Sep 29, 2008 9:28:17 AM

I had to check: it's true that www.votefortheMILF.com results in a redirect to the McCain Web site. I wonder if Todd and Sarah know....

Posted by: Joel | Sep 29, 2008 9:29:10 AM

Palin can't afford a mistake but Biden can play the jackass as usual. That's because people like Stephanopoulos and his buddy Charlie Gibson will pretend that Biden's idiocies never happened. But we already knew that

Posted by: Travis | Sep 29, 2008 9:29:25 AM

Palin supporters will be cheering that Palin won the battle of the debate..but we will all be losers in this war! Palin is just not qualified to run this country. Be careful what you wish for, you future and your children's future do matter.

Posted by: Intelligent voter | Sep 29, 2008 9:29:37 AM

the bar has been set so incredibly low for palin (even a parrot would be expected to do better then palin) that all she has to do is show up, smile a lot, and simply regurgitate the canned lines that her handlers are shoving down her throat right now.

look for absolutely no substance to her answers. her answers may vaguely reference the question, but they will be pre-written canned responses. even a dog (though probably not a pitbull) could be trained to what she'll do thursday night.

she doesn't need to win the debate. all that this moron has to do, is stand there, smile, spew out her canned lines and she wins the night.

nobody, not even the staunchest republican, believes she can possibly debate Biden.

scary, scary, that the republicans are willing to put a completely incompetent, vengeful, dingbat in the VP office.

schleprock

Posted by: schleprock | Sep 29, 2008 9:29:49 AM

Those gloating over Palin's so called interviews(leftist ambush operation inspired by the change clown)have forgotten the stutters,gaffes,half answers,ai ai ai ,ya ya ya from the community organizer.Do not throw stones if you live in a glass house..idiots.

Posted by: JOL | Sep 29, 2008 9:30:32 AM

Dear Gov. Rendell,

I am counting on you, Governor Rendell to do your truth squad duty!

Posted by: HP Boston | Sep 29, 2008 9:31:34 AM

George is right.If Palin says that FDR went on TV when the market crashed in 1929 it will show that she is a loon and it will all be over

Posted by: Susan | Sep 29, 2008 9:31:34 AM

I am surprised by the bizarro-world idealized version some wingnuts (Kristol and K-Lo, eg) are projecting on Palin when they haven't seen any more of her in action than anybody else. Wishful thinking doesn't win debates.

Posted by: TNeedle | Sep 29, 2008 9:34:32 AM

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