USA: Students at the University of Southern California offer their verdicts on which of the candidates won the U.S. vice presidential debate

Record ID: 593268

  • Title: USA: Students at the University of Southern California offer their verdicts on which of the candidates won the U.S. vice presidential debate
  • Date: 3rd October 2008
  • Summary: TELEVISION MONITOR AND CROWD WATCHING TELEVISION SHOWING DEMOCRATIC VICE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE JOE BIDEN SPEAKING
  • Embargoed: 18th October 2008 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Usa
  • Country: USA
  • Topics: Domestic Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA30I2K0IZJM7I67VY7ALXXO4F
  • Story Text: University of Southern California's media room was packed on Thursday night (October 2) for the vice presidential debate between Republican Sarah Palin and Democrat Joe Biden.
    The spirited 90-minute debate kept the audience entertained. While both camps claimed victory, two polls taken after the debate, by CNN and CBS News, judged Biden the winner, but the CNN poll found a big majority thought Palin did better than expected. Those results were echoed by those watching at USC.

    "Palin was more able to -what is the word I am looking for - to connect with the people," explained University of Southern California student Warren Chow. "But, Biden knew his stuff more. So, I think Biden won the debate."

    "Joe Biden won the debate, he explained everything clearly,"
    said fellow student Elham Hasson. "He said what he wanted to do with Barack Obama. Sarah Palin really did not answer the questions and just shows she lacks experience. So, I think Joe Biden won the debate."
    With all eyes on Palin in her national debut in an unscripted format, the 44-year-old Alaska governor turned in a steady and aggressive performance in which she repeatedly attacked Obama and pledged she and McCain would work for the middle-class.

    "I think one of the surprises is that Sarah Palin exceeded expectations," explained University of Southern California professor Jonathan Wilcox. "I think in a situation like this, in a debate like this, in a situation like this, all eyes were on her. What is she going to say, how is she going to say it. So, I think she held up pretty well under all that."
    The highly anticipated match-up promised more than the usual drama because of curiosity about Palin, a relative unknown who was thrust into instant celebrity when she was selected as McCain's No. 2 in August.
    The encounter may have drawn a larger television audience than the 52 million who watched last week's first debate between the presidential candidates.
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