Stephanopoulos: Biden Strategy Edges Palin Style

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Stephanopoulos: Biden Strategy Edges Palin Style

October 03, 2008 8:04 AM

ABC News' George Stephanopoulos reports: Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin beat expectations last night and she may have gone a long way in stopping the slide in her souring poll numbers.

She didn't make any huge mistakes and didn't have any "deer in the headlights" moments. Her campaign has to be happy with her performance.

But Democratic vice presidential candidate Joe Biden did something even more important. He executed the core strategy of the Biden-Obama campaign -- taking the fight to Republican presidential candidate John McCain, and tying him to President Bush. Biden did that in every single answer last night.

Palin was smiling, upbeat, and confident last night. But it came at a time when people are hurting. Her answer to Biden's attacks on McCain and Bush was to argue that the Delaware senator was looking to the past. But what she did not do effectively last night is explain how going forward McCain and Palin would be different -- a missed opportunity.

This debate last night probably didn't move many people to switch their votes. It likely only solidified partisan leanings and most of the instant polls that came in last night had a generally partisan response to the debate. If you came in liking Biden you thought he won, and if you came in liking Palin you thought she won.

However for the McCain-Palin campaign: that's the problem. This race is solidifying in a trajectory that goes against McCain.

Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama has the edge in most national and battleground state polls.

In a stunning move yesterday, the McCain campaign pulled out of the key battleground state of Michigan. With 17 electoral votes up for grabs, it was a key target for McCain to turn from blue to red.

Going forward, McCain is really only playing in a couple of Democratic states like Wisconsin, maybe New Hampshire, and maybe Minnesota. To contrast that, Obama is playing in a host of Republican states, and is ahead in states like Ohio, Virginia, Florida, New Mexico, Colorado, Nevada, and Iowa. What this means right now is that Obama and Biden have far more states in play and McCain's only hope is to recreate the 2004 wins by President George Bush. If Obama and Biden can take away electorally rich states like Ohio and Florida, and the three southwestern states, they will be on the path toward victory.

McCain has only two debates left to change the minds of voters. If he's going to win, he's got to get the financial crisis behind him. During the final debates McCain must open up a new line of attack against Obama and create a new playing field.

October 3, 2008 in Biden, Joe, McCain, John, Obama, Barack, Palin, Sarah, Vote 2008: Democrats, Vote 2008: Republicans | Permalink | User Comments (319)

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Whatever George.
Palin kicked the stuffing out of Biden last night. Either you are in denial or you have been in DC too long to realize it.

Posted by: geevill | Oct 3, 2008 8:12:58 AM

geevill,
What were you watching? She did ok...nothing earth shattering. It was all Republican talking points.

Posted by: J | Oct 3, 2008 8:17:04 AM

She was cute, and loveable last night with her answers...True voters can see through it and realize she didn't answer the questions that were asked. She even admitted she wasn't doing so..."One weakness?" "One promise?" "Has Bush been a failure?" The list goes on. She exceeded expectations which is good for her; but she still took an L; way to go Joe...Say it is So

Posted by: PoliticsAsUsual | Oct 3, 2008 8:17:06 AM

Bidin duct almost every question with the sosialistic democratic talking points. Palin stuck to her guns and may have missed a few numbers but she was right on with everything especially on the issues of energy and enviromental issues Obama wants to hurt the nation with the false issue of climate changes and using the need to get our energy from our own nation, so lets keep paying our enamies for oil and energy and help them get stronger. Maybe instead of raising taxes we need to look at an alternative tax with no tax consiquences on buisnesses this will bring more jobs back to the U.S. It is really sad how your news company and so many others are so biest. The news isn't a hollywood game show like it has become. Your attempt at running the country with deciept and lies will continue to hurt your ratings.

Posted by: michael mossey | Oct 3, 2008 8:21:27 AM

According to most polls except for the ones by conservative news stations like Fox, BIDEN won the debate by large, significant margins. Palin didn't screw up majorly like she usually does, but she danced around all the questions with vague generalizations, and often barely answered them (instead, she recited talking points like a robot, even if the talking points had nothing to do with the actual question). Biden was specific, knowledgeable, and provided far deeper answers that demonstrated his intelligence, capabilities and readiness to be Vice President.

Sarah Palin may have scraped through but she is still, in no shape or form, ready to be VP. The polls show that.

Posted by: Nah | Oct 3, 2008 8:22:01 AM

she was far from cute she was very irritating and her overly folksy approach was so fake. She didnt look out of place but she looked rehearsed. I dint ome out with a good impression of her at all.

Posted by: mason | Oct 3, 2008 8:22:05 AM

George is in the tank for Obama and America knows it. Palin literally kicked Biden's butt last night. He was the "typical" Washington politician, while she spoke to America. He kept looking backwards and pointing fingers, while she envisioned the future for America. Of course, the media and pundits will play this Biden's way, but America knows the truth...that Palin won and McCain will be the next President of the United States.

McCain/Palin 08!
"COUNTRY FIRST!"

Posted by: ByeByeBiden | Oct 3, 2008 8:22:32 AM

Like I said Whatever. Obamabots can post all day, but America saw a good old fashioned hockey mom smackdown.

Posted by: geevill | Oct 3, 2008 8:23:29 AM

Governor Palin was GREAT!!!! YOU GO GIRL!!!! She is a true American....Biden/Obama are nothing more than socialists!

Posted by: alice | Oct 3, 2008 8:24:59 AM

George is hardly an objective person so who really cares about his opinion?

Posted by: dlc | Oct 3, 2008 8:25:00 AM

Georgie, grow the hell up and be a man. The exit polls so to speak showed that in fact she picked up on Independants. You are so predictable in the last year or so that it's demeaning to you and your (ugghhh) proffession, why don't you get a job at the NYT. Be a man instead of a pundant and expose Biden for his lying on McSurging's voting record. Do you have the balls to do that Georgie?

Posted by: bombem | Oct 3, 2008 8:25:25 AM

PALIN! PALIN! PALIN! PALIN! PALIN!
PALIN! PALIN! PALIN! PALIN! PALIN!
PALIN! PALIN! PALIN! PALIN! PALIN!
PALIN! PALIN! PALIN! PALIN! PALIN!
PALIN! PALIN! PALIN! PALIN! PALIN!
PALIN! PALIN! PALIN! PALIN! PALIN!

Posted by: TJ | Oct 3, 2008 8:25:56 AM

Truthfully If you have read some of my post you will see who i have been pulling for.I have to say Biden did a good job and I think Palin did a good job What I really liked was the fact that if she did not want to answer a question she dorve home her points.Whereas Biden in true politician form just out and out lied.She may not have the politician ways down yet But I think thats what we need a outsider who has proven she helps the little guy by taking on the big guys

Posted by: reddog0216 | Oct 3, 2008 8:26:42 AM

Sarah Palin amazed me last night with her energy and connection with America. Bide, was his usual BORING self! Palin adds energy to the Republicans, an energy that Obama/Biden can't contain. Way to go, Palin! You make America PROUD!

Posted by: carpe' diem | Oct 3, 2008 8:27:14 AM

Posted by: TJ | Oct 3, 2008 8:27:34 AM

If I wanted to watch June Cleaver, I'd watch re-runs of Leave it to Beever. She made me sick with that fake folksy stuff.(lol...the spam filter doesn't like the beav?)

Posted by: J | Oct 3, 2008 8:27:43 AM

Does George Stephanopoulos really believe that Palin has style??? Is that what this election has come down to? STYLE?? Foreign leaders are not going to be interested in Style, but substance. Palin does not have substance.

Her quirky six-pack, hockey mom speil is not going to interest our allies nor our adversaries.

Palin is light-weight! Not ready for prime time, and not ready for the VP spot!!

Send McCain/Palin packing!!!

America can not afford to become the laughing stock of the world!!!

Posted by: Shay | Oct 3, 2008 8:28:20 AM

Biden and his "proceedural" votes. Who cares? and the end of the day we wind up with higher taxes. Obama #1 liberal nd Biden #3 liberal didn't earn those rankings by cutting taxes.

Posted by: geevill | Oct 3, 2008 8:28:58 AM

Well, what republicans can be proud of, is cutting their losses in polls. In respect to that palin did indeed her job. there was no knock-out as they had to fear. But if you think palin won, just because she attacked and attacked and attacked.. here is your question: do you want a vice-president who knows answers or do you prefer one who like to say: no, but lets talk about issues I do know! What is an opinion worth based on no knowledege of the subjekt.

Posted by: alex | Oct 3, 2008 8:29:33 AM

Geevil, It kills me when someone like you says that she kick the stuffing out of JOE BIDEN...Look, she did good. She didn't HURT John McCain. She didn't have her FACTS right, she winked to the American one, to two many times, that I thought she was flirting with me, but she did good. I dig her swag, even though she didn't know what the hell she was talking about, didn't answer the questioned when asked to her, beat about the bush MOST of the time. She even made obvious saying, I'm going to answer this question HERE, but not that one...lol
Look, this woman scares me as a POTENTIAL candidate for Vice President or President....And the blame all falls on JOHN McCAIN, he had lots of qualified potential candidates, but WHY HER?..*sighs* That goes to show his judgement was and is bad for America and you know what, like Bush, he will never admit that he picked the wrong person...
Barak may be INEXPERIENCED, he may have less EXPERIENCED than Palin, but wow, I'm so proud of his character, the way he has progressed so far in all of this and still hold his own.........Says ALOT!

Posted by: Tarnue | Oct 3, 2008 8:29:43 AM

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