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V.P. debate a contest worth watching — even at a sports bar
GREG KAHN
Thom Popoli Jr. owner of Foxboro Sports Tavern, takes a break to watch the first Vice Presidential candidate debate on Thursday, Oct. 2, 2008.
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Vice presidential debate
Democratic vice presidential candidate Sen. Joe Biden, D-Del., and Republican vice presidential candidate Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin face off during the vice presidential debate at Washington University on Thursday, October 2, 2008.
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NAPLES — It was a thin crowd at Foxboro Sports Tavern.
Not only for post-season baseball, but for Thursday’s debate between vice presidential candidates Republican Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin and Sen. Joe Biden, D-Delaware.
Amy Amico, 25, Jesse Witten, 25, and Alex Perez, 25, took seats in an area sectioned-off for the debate, ready to be moved.
All employed, with no immediate bones to pick with either party or candidate, the three registered voters waited to be moved by the debaters.
After Biden and Palin talked a bit, observers noticed that Palin was a lot more engaging. And didn’t Biden look, well, old?
“She criticized Biden for being old, but McCain is older than Biden,” Alex Perez observed.
Amico said Biden looked and sounded “very rehearsed and restrained.”
When asked if it appeared that Biden wasn’t engaging Palin, Amico said she thought that was the game plan.
“I think all that coaching was so he was NOT supposed to engage her,” Amico said.
Asked about preference, and issues, and whether they’d actually vote for a president based on a vice presidential debate, Amico said this: “One of the big things in this election is that it could pull (voters) from one party to another.”
Perez agreed, although he stressed that he’ll vote for the best candidate.
“We can’t take another eight years of this. It didn’t really work out for anyone but the rich people,” Perez said.
As for a vice presidential debate, Perez said it is rather important.
“He’s next in line,” he said of Biden, meaning, should anything happen to Barack Obama, if elected.
Delores Ashley, 79, was off at another table, quietly observing the debate, but was willing to openly state that she is a devout Republican, and is, now, a Sarah Palin fan.
“I didn’t come in liking her,” Ashley admitted. However, she said she feels nothing from Biden.
“There’s nothing I can (find to) connect to him,” Ashley said.
Witten remained relatively silent through the debate, intently watching the screen.
“I can’t hear them,” Witten said, straining between TV sets.
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Don't you mean JoeyBagadonuts Eco?
Sounds like a brawl waiting to happen, a debate in a sports bar.
#1 Posted by Jadip811 on October 2, 2008 at 11:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)
ecoterror,
Biden's target audience was watching from the middle east. Love me that Obama!!
#2 Posted by Sanity on October 2, 2008 at 11:34 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Drinking and debates just don't mix.
Palin is difficult to relate to even for the sober folks!
#3 Posted by beetlejuice on October 3, 2008 at 1:54 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Well, of the four people running in this election... she is the most like common people.
#4 Posted by RainMan on October 3, 2008 at 7:21 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The fact that palin had to go to 5 colleges to get journalism degree showed. In the begining, she looked like she was about to cry and her voice was cracking. I'll give her credit, once she started to rely on her experience as a ditzy beauty queen, she felt more comfortable. How many times is she going to mention maverick. mclame's campaign is a bigger con job than bush's. Can you imagine her having to meet the queen of spain or england?? Palin was an embarassement last night. No facts, just finger pointing and contradiction.
#5 Posted by Blkndn305 on October 3, 2008 at 9:41 a.m. (Suggest removal)
#7, well I think that there should be a balance of traits to be the next VP. You have to know and understand the problems that everyday people are facing but also have the leadeship skills to run for government. Unfortunately, with her language tacticts she made herself look like an intern who was "just happy to be there". Lets not forget to mention that she really dint answer ANY questions but whatever was previously prepared.
#6 Posted by Elle on October 3, 2008 at 10:49 a.m. (Suggest removal)
#8-#9 you just described every politician.
And for God's sake if you question her experience, you've gotta questions Obama's.
"she looked like she was about to cry and her voice was cracking. I'll give her credit, once she started to rely on her experience as a ditzy beauty queen"
Wow when you have to stoop to picking on her voice, or how she looks, thats really sad. Find something else to critique otherwise you're the ditz
#7 Posted by trehuger on October 3, 2008 at 11:24 a.m. (Suggest removal)
#10 Then let's pick on her record: a. Name a supreme court case besides 'Roe v. Wade'; can't. b. Name the newspaper(s) you read; "all of them". c. Bush Doctrine. d. "Thanks, but no thanks"; in fact, she supported the infamous pork project in her 2006 run for governor, even after Congress had killed the bridge -- reversed her stance a year later, BUT KEPT THE MONEY, doling out $223 million in federal funds to other pork projects! e. While mayor, Wasilla and surrounding valley named "the meth capital of Alaska" with 42 meth labs busted in a single year. f. "Fought the oil companies"; NOPE. She collected $13,000 in campaign contributions from oil & gas lobbyists, including Exxon, BP, Shell and Chevron -- BP sponsored her inaugural ball! g. "vetoed wasteful spending"; As governor, sought travel reimbursement for 312 nights she spent IN HER OWN HOME.
Come on. How can anyone seriously vote Republican with Palin just a heartbeat away from the presidency?!?
#8 Posted by Parzival on October 3, 2008 at 2:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)
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