Tonight's VP Debate - Predictions

This post will morph into an open thread (+live blogging maybe) when the debate starts tonight at 8pm. Here's what I'm reading to prepare:

• Weekly Standard: Palin v. Biden on Abortion
• CNN: Palin, Biden ready to face off in St. Louis
• Margaret Cabaniss: It's debate time!
• AP: Debate offers high risks, big rewards
• Deal Hudson: I Predict a Palin Victory Tonight
• HotAir: Palin to Biden: Bring it on (video)

I do think Palin will exceed expectations.

What are your predictions/thoughts?

update: Yes I did watch the debate, but unfortunately at a location away from a blogging apparatus. I'm still forming my opinion. I would note quickly that Biden, true to form, reminded us of his pro-abortion stance by saying one of his reasons for objecting to the nomination of Robert Bork as a supreme court justice was that he might have opposed Roe. (Heaven forbid, right?)

Brian Burch at the CatholicVote.com blog said in response:

"I couldn’t help but recall the recent letter of Cardinal Francis George, who wrote: “one cannot favor the legal status quo on abortion and also be working for the common good.” Biden clearly supports the legal status quo, and presumably, expanding the legal status quo (with Sen. Obama) in favor of the Freedom of Choice Act."

I think Palin handled herself very well, especially considering her relative inexperience (five weeks on the national scene against Biden's +30 years), and the low expectations she was greeted with as a result of her recent imperfect interviews. I knew she could do better than those one-sided interviews revealed, partly because I pulled up archived video of her previous debates when running for Governor of Alaska, which helped tremendously in her victory then.

The reaction I'm seeing on the right is extremely positive (which is to be expected), and even on the left, begrudgingly complimentary. What about "average joe six-pack" and America's hockey moms?

Well it seemed like they just loved it.

Finally, while Palin relied heavily on McCain campaign talking points, her personality did shine through from time to time. Biden, on the other hand, only had his talking points, and those change depending on the election cycle, his current campaign, and recent polling. As far as the debate itself, he did have more knowledge of the facts (noticed how much it focused on foreign policy - to Biden's clear advantage) and benefited from some early Palin stage jitters.

Call me cynical, but sophism seems to be the key to political survival these days.... and woe to us.

I'm also very pleased to see the healthy debate proceeding in this comment box - keep it coming!

(Oh, and the beginning photo/caption on this post was hilarious!)