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The Note: Expectations Low -- Can Palin Soar?

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October 02, 2008 8:56 AM

ABC News' Rick Klein reports in Thursday's Note:

ST. LOUIS -- Maybe Sarah Barracuda knows her head fakes.

Might the stumbling, halting performances have been the best thing that could have happened to Gov. Sarah Palin?

Surely she can clear the bar Tina Fey set for her. Certainly she’s been studying up on issues that move beyond Alaska’s proximity to Russia. Naturally she’ll find a way to ease in some zingers that she knows better than most will be the soundbites people remember. (And if all else fails -- blame the refs.)

It’s a face-off of a peculiar sort on tap for 8 pm CT (9 pm ET) Thursday: Palin and Sen. Joe Biden will be measured on their interactions with each other, but mostly they’ll be measured against themselves. And, sorry, Joe, most of the public is tuning in to see only one of the two candidates on stage at Washington University in St. Louis.

This is the Palin-Biden debate -- though really it will be Palin’s night, the single biggest opportunity for the nation to see its celebrity candidate doing something close to approximating the work she’d be presumed to have to do should she win.

Read the rest of The Note -- and get all the latest on the 2008 election, Congress, the White House and the wide world of politics every day -- from Rick Klein by bookmarking this link.

And with a fresh round of national and state-level polls showing some Obama separation -- and some Palin drag -- there may be no better chance for the McCain-Palin ticket to jump back into the ballgame.

(What does it say about the McCain-Palin team’s confidence that the conservative noise machine was trying to drown out the moderator before a question has been asked? And when will Team McCain get introduced to the Google?) 

This is star power, fading:

“Skepticism about Sarah Palin has soared since she entered the national political stage, with six in 10 Americans now doubting her qualifications for office and fewer than half convinced of her grasp of complex issues,” ABC polling director Gary Langer writes of the new ABC News/Washington Post numbers. 

“In advance of her debate against Joe Biden tonight, Palin now looks more like a drag than a boost to the GOP ticket: Thirty-two percent of registered voters say her selection makes them less likely to support John McCain for president, up from 19 percent last month,” Langer writes. “Just 35 percent say Palin has the experience it takes to serve effectively as president, down a dozen points since early September; 60 percent think not, up 15.” 

Continue reading today's Note by clicking HERE.

ABC News' Hope Ditto contributed to this report.

October 2, 2008 in Biden, Joe, Bush, George W., Clinton, Bill, McCain, John, Obama, Barack, Palin, Sarah, Veepstakes, Vote 2008: Democrats, Vote 2008: Republicans | Permalink | User Comments (77)

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See McCain sounding like Palin on CNN and MSNBC. AVOIDING the QUESTIONS, and Changing the Subject.

Posted by: historyremembered | Oct 2, 2008 9:01:36 AM

Palin can soar if she will actually answer the question with some depth and consideration. The American people do not know her and what little we have seen is frightening. The McCain camp keeping her from the press makes it look as if she has something to hide. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has given more press conferences to American reporters than Palin has.

Posted by: Paige | Oct 2, 2008 9:04:54 AM

Sarah Palin needs to understand that she is nothing more than a empty headed political pawn meant to grab the Clinton votes. She has no substance or qualifications to be the next vp of the USA. Go home Sarah!!!! I feel nothing but pity for her...she should have said "Thanks but no thanks" and saved herself some humiliation. Again, go home Sarah!!


Posted by: jen | Oct 2, 2008 9:13:04 AM

I wonder if the repubs will leak out the ad that says palin "won the debate" before the debate happens like they did with mccain last week...

Posted by: pt | Oct 2, 2008 9:20:51 AM

Jen,

no need to sound so angry. Jen if your so confident in the candidate Obama that was sold to you by the media than don't act so angry. I don't care for Obama or McCain. I think they are both inept to be commander in chief but Obama will win the Whitehouse - hopefully for the sake of our country we will not have to eat crow if he falls flat on his face. Good luck.

Posted by: Frank- South Hampton | Oct 2, 2008 9:23:16 AM

This is scary....but I remember the 1992 VP debate between Gore-Quayle-Stockdale. Gore was more knowledgeable and beat Quayle on issues. However, Gore and Quayle got into bickering leaving Stockdale left out. Viewers declared Stockdale the winner even though he clearly did not have a firm grasp of issues. The lesson is....Viewers are going to be pre-disposed to giving Palin the benefit of the doubt. Biden just needs to provide concise, direct, answers and not be drawn into petty arguments that Palin surely will try to start. Palin is on the spot to show she is knowledgeable Biden does not. He just needs to show he is above partisanship. By the way, he could also point out to Palin John McCain's positions over the last 27 years. The fact is, Biden knows McCain a lot better than Palin. I don't think this should be lost in the debate. It will point out that McCain surely selected Palin in haste for political expediency.

Posted by: indy_voter | Oct 2, 2008 9:24:42 AM

Jen - you feel pity for Sarah! What have you accomplished in life. I think she is a very accomplished person. I don't think she needs or wants your pity. If she were to look at your life - she would probably pity you.

Posted by: BRENDA | Oct 2, 2008 9:31:02 AM

Obama wasn't "sold"

if he was it was after almost 2 years now...of questions prodding...answers...policies...explanations...details...and lots and lots of common sense and logic.

that is a very smart buy.

so if the media "sold " Obama to us.

we should all thank the media for the longest and most detailed and discussed....debate of a sale in the history of our nation.

Obama is the right choice.

Mccain/Palin beyond wrong...

in fact Mccain Palin...the arguably...worst ticket our nation has ever seen.

Posted by: dl | Oct 2, 2008 9:32:50 AM

She can talk the talk due to her education but it the conyents that she speaks thjat counts.ASll Biden has to do is let her talk her self to death and say nothing but astupid jokes.

Posted by: indp voter | Oct 2, 2008 9:35:03 AM

I have to feel sorry for the people of Alaska that elected palin. My guess is that she will not be able to win re-election as govenor after causing embarrassment to the Alaskan people.

Posted by: pt | Oct 2, 2008 9:35:19 AM

and yes...she would have to "SOAR"

to cover up the moronic statements and stupidity that has come out of her mouth ..in only 4 interviews!!!!!

think about how stupid any American would have to be to get as much wrong as Palin has in the 4 interviews.

look at all the issues she has not been able to answer...and tried to cover with malarkey...

that anyone on here practically could have gotten most of those answers

so
NO

she doesn't "just have to walk on the stage and be relatable"

she has to outshine Biden on knowledge and logic and discussion of issues...3 fold.

the bar did not get lowered...it's higher.

Posted by: dl | Oct 2, 2008 9:37:07 AM

Why is FEC Keeping Lid on OBAMA SCANDAL?

It looks as if Senator Obama may have received MORE THAN $200 MILLION in illegal donations including millions overseas campaign donations. Four times during the last three months an FEC Auditor has asked his bosses to start an investigation into Senator Obama’s illegal campaign donations such as this one

Similarly, a donor identified as “Pro, Doodad,” from “Nando, NY,” gave $19,500 in 786 separate donations, most of them for $25. For most of these donations, Mr. Doodad Pro listed his employer as “Loving” and his profession as “You,” etc.


Posted by: HP Boston | Oct 2, 2008 9:44:16 AM

dl,
I agree. Some people seem to think we are electing the queen of the junior prom. People need to realize that there would be a real chance that the VP might have to take over as president. Obama/Biden 2008!!!

Posted by: pt | Oct 2, 2008 9:45:10 AM

To DL:

Obama without a written answers or teleprompter.

Um I ohh umm - ehhe I umm umm umm umm!

He has been to 57 states. Duh!

Voted present over 135 times in the US Senate. "Afraid to Committ"

Iran is a small country and does not pose a threat. "WTF"

I would have perfer to seen a gradual increase in gas prices? DuH?

How many trillions in new spending. Where is this money coming from? TAXES my frineds!

So many more to list but since we only have the old geiser McCain and the inexperienced Obama. This country is screwed.

We will elect the next Jimmy Carter.

I agree that Obama was so pushed and shoved done our throats for the past 18 or so months because the mainstream media wants to have the historical election then historical inauguration of a black person and if anyone does not recognize this chooses not to. I am not a Obama supporter but I have been a life time Dem and will be forced to vote for this Bozo. Plain and simple.

Posted by: Frank- South Hampton | Oct 2, 2008 9:46:43 AM

HP Boston - You have been making stuff up since I started reading these blogs......why do you just write a bunch of nonsense that any thinking person can figure out are lies? You are as bad a JSM..so just go vote for him and leave us alone

Posted by: Chipo1965 | Oct 2, 2008 9:54:18 AM

We know about the Governor. She can debait while standing up. .........
http://thefiresidepost.com/2008/10/01/rednecks-for-palin-wasilla-aa/

Posted by: Ohg Rea Tone | Oct 2, 2008 9:55:14 AM

Laughing so hard after reading these post from you liberal Dems! Just wait there are some October surprises coming your way, and when they come out the people of the USA will see Obama and his wife for what they truely are! I remember hearing there is a nice little tape of Mrs. Obama floating around calling us "whities" cant wait for that to hit the airwaves!

Posted by: CHUCK | Oct 2, 2008 9:55:35 AM

I think Sarah will do very well in the debate. Most of this talk about these interviews done recently is just dribble that people have come up with to justify their own position. After all the very experienced and knowledgeable politicians that we have in office and congress now don't appear to have done their job that well. Why should Sarah Palin's experience be held to a level above those jokers in congress that are there now

Posted by: Richard | Oct 2, 2008 9:55:50 AM

yeah - thats it Frank and Hp, The fix ix in, everyone hates yor candidate and are hiding the truth... give me a break

Posted by: Chipo1965 | Oct 2, 2008 9:56:03 AM

I didn't see much soaring in the AK debates. Palin did fine but nothing exceptional.

She will just avoid any question she can't answer. She's very good at talking herself in circles until time runs out.

Posted by: bubba | Oct 2, 2008 9:58:00 AM

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