VP Debate Prep
No matter how seasoned or fresh the candidate, anyone debating on national television needs to prepare. This includes Sarah “wrong soundbite” Palin and Joe “faux-pas” Biden. And their difference in strategies in readying themselves for Thursday’s debate reflects the large discrepancy between them as candidates. Biden is home in Delaware eating burgers and hangin’ with the family. Palin, on the other hand, is secluded in McCain’s ranch in Arizona at, what a top aid calls, “debate camp.” Biden is working on being less verbose and cooling down his tone so as not to appear condescending or sexist. To do this he has placed another good-looking political figure with breasts, Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm, at the podium across from him as he practices in a series of mock debates. Down south in Sedona, Palin is working with advisers Tucker Eskew, Nicolle Wallace and Mark Wallace to brush up on her orating skills with the best from President George W. Bush’s camp—all experienced in turning misspeaks into vague, fear-inducing soundbites. And lastly, what do each of the candidates say about the other’s debating skills similarly says a lot about their character. In the wake of Palin’s disasterous media appearances of late, Biden says, “I think she’s gonna be a pretty skillful debater. I think it’ll be a tough debate for me.” Huh. And then there’s Palin who says Biden is: “a great debater and looks pretty doggone confident, like he’s gonna win.” It appears that there is one common strategy both candidates are employing leading up to Thursday’s debate, one that’s as American as baked Alaska: lowering expectations of oneself until even the biggest failures appear triumphant.
–Jamie Wong
