Thursday Night Lights: Biden vs. Palin

Thursday night will give rise to the modern day political Goliath vs. the underdog story as the seasoned political master, Joe Biden, faces off against a relative newcomer to the national stage, Sarah Palin. The battle between them will be fought with more voracity than the main event, Obama vs McCain, for these vice presidential candidates are the chosen foot soldiers for each campaign.

Biden's patrician charm and cerebral sense of humor can prove to be either his benefit or could also spell his downfall. Too often the average American views a snarky verbal strafe as condescending. This was evident during the Democratic primary debates where many of his forays flew far over the heads of most primary voters. The somewhat learned media were quick to pick up on this humor and received it well. However, the average debate watcher seemed rather annoyed with him. In modern America, intelligence sometimes comes at a liability.

On the other hand, Palin bathed herself deeply in the realm of clever quips and playful jabs when she first soaked in the national spotlight during the Republican National Convention. Her style of salvo against Barack Obama helped cement her as McCain's pit-bull, able to deliver spiteful bites while covering quick with a smile. Palin may suffer slightly in debate experience but she more than makes up for this with a fan base eager to hear her stylish verbal blitz against her opposition.

Obviously the hottest issue to be raised will be the state of the US economy. The debate has the misfortune of being held during the tail end of a hellish week for financial news and a failed attempt by both Obama and McCain to mend the unpopular Bailout proposal before it was defeated by congress. Misfortune for the candidates but a boon for undecided voters! This issue cannot be easily waved aside with the promise of a future plan that so many debate items can be. Instead this current event not only divides the candidates from themselves but also divides both parties from the popular opinions of many voters. Unfortunately, what should be the most volatile issue of the debate will probably fizzle since either candidate's view on the financial crisis will most likely seem very similar to the other's.

Iraq is sure to be the next hot-button topic. The unpopular war cannot be ignored and this is the realm where both candidates differ so very much. Here is where the undecided public will certainly sway one way or the other. Palin's recent gaffs during her few interviews that seem to go completely against McCain's platform may become easy targets for Biden. The advantage that McCain holds over Obama with Iraq may not carry over to an advantage for Palin. Sparks should definitely fly during this section of the debate!

Each candidate's family will certainly be a theme both Biden, as well as Palin, will want to revisit as much as possible during the debate. During both the Democratic and Republican conventions, we were introduced to the idea that by introducing the average American to the family life of these candidates, Americans would bond with them closer. Palin has used her role as hockey mom throughout her campaign. Biden has been slightly less quick to trumpet his home life despite also having a solid middle-American lifestyle that resonates well with the public. This may be a subject that Biden can use to take Palin away from her safety net - by reminding the public that he too has strong family values, perhaps stronger still thanks to some of Palin's daughter's less than ideal situation. Chances are, though, that Palin will come out stronger in this part of the debate as she has throughout her campaign.

Despite Biden's tremendous advantage in politics as a whole, I do not see him having so great a lead over Palin that she cannot overcome. Her popularity with middle-America since her introduction at the RNC has solidified her as a venerable contender against even the most polished of Washington professional politicians. Thursday's debate will undoubtedly be a night of fireworks and excitement that could prove the swing point for so very many undecided voters during this 2008 presidential election.