Governor Romney was largely seen as the winner of last week’s presidential debate, as he gave a confident, direct, and what some called a “presidential” performance. He subsequently gained a significant post-debate bump in the polls. So naturally, all eyes were on Vice President Joe Biden last night, as he and Paul Ryan debated in Kentucky.
So did Biden make up for his boss’s lackluster performance last week? Or is Paul Ryan likely to cause another bump for Romney? Todd Zwillich, our Washington correspondent, gives an assessment.
"Democrats, especially in the base, have to be happy with what they saw from Vice President Joe Biden, because he was aggressive, he was fact-checking," Zwillich says. Though Biden may have seemed "a bit condescending," Zwillich says we have to assess this debate in the context of the last one.
But does the vice presidential debate make much of a difference? Todd Zwillich doubts it. Especially because how one judges the winner of the debate depends largely on their political leanings.
"There was a lot of smiling, and eye-rolling, and interrupting from Joe Biden," Zwillich says. "Conservatives hate it: Joe Biden was condescending and interrupting, Paul Ryan was serious and presidential. Look on the other side: Joe Biden finally took the other side to task for their untruths."
What was perhaps the most interesting takeaway was the conversation about foreign policy — one that the presidential candidates will take on in the next debate.
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Karzai Walks Away From Peace Talks, FEMA Flood Maps Have Big Consequences
Overpopulation of Prisons, The History of Privacy & Democracy, Will Snowden Be Extradited?
An Inside Look at The Largest Solar Boat Ever Built
The show is a co-production of WNYC Radio and Public Radio International, in collaboration with New York Times Radio and WGBH Boston.
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Comments [8]
Paul Ryan is a GenX-er. Strange because I was wondering why he is so different from most of our generation and I figured it out. Most people of Generation X grew up avoiding and sometimes ridiculing Baby-boomers and their hippie-turned-sellout mentality. Ryan though seems to have modeled himself after the Boomers (the active ingredient in tea parties everywhere). He's all about himself and how to protect his own.
Ryan is the Alex P. Keaton of Generation X. Pro-Reagan-cute as a teen but selfish and conniving as most Neo-Con grown-ups are known to be.
On looking at the split screen on replay, Vice-President Biden was smiling and laughing while Senator Ryan was speaking. This really was rude, and he interruped Ryan 82 times. Wow.
I happen to vote for Vice Presidents... Joe Biden for Vice President! I don't care what happens to the Presidency...Imagine Romney, Biden in the White House doing a version of "The Odd Couple." Now that is a Washington reality show I wouldn't miss an episode of.
Correction:
Big talk about tax policy last night...
Big talk about taxe policy last night, and this morning we wake up to the major news outlets (NPR and this show included) talking about Twitter trends, Ryan saying "I know you're under a lot of duress...", Biden saying “Now you’re Jack Kennedy?” Here’s an idea…How about we get some economists on the mic discussing the specifics? What was the effective tax rate when Jack Kennedy proposed his tax cuts? What was the effective tax rate when Reagan proposed his tax cuts? What's the effective tax rate today? Sprinkle in the implications of those policies to the national debt. This is being billed as an election that decides the direction the country is to take in the foreseeable future, the last thing we need is a running account of na-na-na-na-boo-boo. We the people deserve better and we ought to start demanding it!
I felt that I was looking and listening to a child when Ryan spoke. Joe Biden is an experienced adult who explained the issues very well.
i didn't realize that you were a Republican until your opinions were verbalized this morning
I am a long time republican who voted for obama last time and now am undecided.. Last night was an education and insight into Biden has a leader and possible president of this country.. He should be embarrassed for his immaturity and rudeness. I would never want him running this country. He was condescending and righteous and frankly a bad example. I feel for this country.
Of course Paul Ryan gave the Catholic position, Vice-President Biden gave something else. But Paul Ryan was cut off by the moderator, so it was kind of missed.
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