Going into this debate, the luster that had surrounded Sarah Palin had started to fade and her glittering aura a had begun to tarnish due largely to some unflattering interview performances. 

The interviews with Gibson and Couric both featured a Palin who was scripted, nervous and somewhat awkward.

No amount of apologetics can deny that.

Granted, both interviews were conducted by ‘journalists’ who were more concerned with exposing her and had every intention of trying to trap her into a “gotcha” moment with some political gaffe that would sow the world her unsuitability.  In those interviews, she was over prepared and too constrained to talking points. 

Ironically, that is really not that unusual in politics.  Politicians love to fall back on prepared talking points, safe answers. 

Also deep in a sense of irony is the fact that a VP candidate is rarely subjected to this amount of scrutiny.  She has actually face harder media scrutiny that Obama in some ways. 

Let me stop and admit that the over analyzing of Sarah Palin is not necessarily a bad thing.  Obama and McCain have been media figured well over a year now, as has Biden due to his earlier presidential run.

But to be fair, why was Biden not scrutinized, particularly his many negative comments about his (now) favorite guy, Obama?  The answer may be that despite that, Biden is another known element.  But still Palin has undergone a harsh introduction to the media show less about her and more about the shallowness and true motivation of the media - and I am not talking about political or liberal partisanship.  I am talking about the medias vulture like attention to a weak politician.  they are the rabid dogs that you must never show fear to.

Tonights debate was likely one of the most important in recent history.  If Palin had tanked in the debate, the McCain campaign for the president would be over.  His judgment already in question, he would have to defend a poor choice, or admit he blundered.

No matter that  Biden has made several serious gaffes in recent months.

Sarah had a mission, and a daunting one it seems.  She had to show that she was capable of holding her own against one of the most experienced and argumentative politicians in the Senate.  And she had to do so in a debate moderated by a person whose own impartiality had been called into question.

Gwen Ifill however proved to be scrupulously fair, and to the best of my knowledge she posed fair and consistent question.  The questions of her impartiality remain, but to her credit she answered them with fairness.  My hat’s off to her.

As for Biden he was apparently on his best behavior.  His normally waspish attitude was covered with a calm demeanor that many people commented on at the live blogging I was watching tonight.

And to her own credit, Sarah Palin was apparently unleashed.  She seemed in charge from the beginning with her presence.

She had her shaky moments, sure.  Not every answer was where I wanted it.  but she also had the most memorable lines, she was articulate and at the same time folksy and real.

In fact, some commenters took exception to her folksiness, proving yet again the disconnect between flyover American and the Washington Elite.

The pundits will argue for days who won of course, but mostly that depends on who you liked beforehand.  In the polling I saw on TV, which I concede is not a meaningful sample, more people who were unimpressed with her before were impressed now, that vica versa.

She had a simple, yet profound goal.  She had to hold her own.  To that extent, they apparently turned her loose and she rose to the occasion, showing the same fire and presence she showed at the debate.

Pity this Sarah was not the same one fumbling with Couric. 

In my opinion, her strength is in her realness and honesty and when she is held to a script, she has trouble reacting.  Turn her loose and she is fine.  Whoever prepped her for the debate leveraged her strengths.

The here are some reactions:

Malkin:  Sarah Rocks!

Sister Toldjah:  Goooo Sarah! She did great.

Stop the ACLU:  Biden Lies On Obama Meeting Ahmedinijad Without Conditions, and 13 Other Lies

Dick Morris: Declares Palin the New Reagan (via STA)

 Frank Luntz Group: Palin Wins (via STA)

 Peggy Noonan: She Killed (via STA)

Don Surber:The moose hunter bags another one.

Dan Riehl: Sarah steam-rolled Biden!

Note, Biden’s worst gaffe, ironically, was on his claim about the powers of the VP from article 1 of the Constitution.  Uh…no,  Article 2 maybe? 

Oops.   File that next to his story about FDR on TV during the great depression…

Final thought:  The McCain campaign stays alive with her performance, but they still have to battle much of the MSM who is already calling this for Biden.  Amazing.  Although, not shocking, not any more.

Maybe they are mad she called them out in the debate.

Debate transcript here.  Video below. Watch for yourself, if you missed it.  Obviously opinions will vary, but I thought she did very well.

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