Both show their strengths in colorful clash

(David McNew/Getty Images)

Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin began last night's much awaited debate with a reminder of why she seemed such a fresh and unique presence on the national stage, tackling economic issues with a vernacular that hasn't been used in recent presidential politics.

But her debate performance followed the same trajectory as her five-week-old vice presidential candidacy, which entered choppier waters when the discussion turned to foreign policy. And Democrat Joe Biden, who seemed off-balance at first, gained command as the night went on.

The debate probably didn't help or hurt either ticket. As in the first presidential debate, a draw goes to the less experienced candidate - in this case Palin, for whom expectations were lower.

But this debate had a far different tenor than last week's contest between Barack Obama and John McCain. The two presidential candidates excelled at explaining their positions and left voters with a good sense of what they could expect from either one. As theater, however, it was a bit dull.

Last night's vice presidential debate, by contrast, featured numerous colorful exchanges, and viewers' interpretations of it likely turned on their reactions to the candidates' personalities.

Those disposed to find Palin cheerful and down-to-earth probably liked what they saw, while those who find Biden to be an appealing mix of traditional Democratic values and policy expertise probably came away impressed.

Likewise, those who find Biden a bit windy weren't likely to have been dissuaded. And those who think Palin sounds like the small-market TV broadcaster she once was probably still don't feel she's ready for prime time.

"Darn right it was the predatory lenders," she said in one of her early, effective answers, in this case to a question about who's to blame for the subprime mortgage meltdown.

She also suggested that "I think a good barometer here, as we try to figure out if this has been a good time or a bad time in America's economy, is go to a kid's soccer game on Saturday, and turn to any parent there on the sideline and ask them, 'How are you feeling about the economy?' "

It was a shrewd formulation, reminding people of her own role as a mother of five, while gently taking the focus off the policies that caused the problems - Republican ones, according to Biden - and instead stressing her determination to improve families' lives.

It was a mistake, however, for her to try to answer Biden's informed, detailed answers on foreign policy with folksy comments. Her depiction of nuclear weapons as the "be all, end all" for "just too many people" and her praise of Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice for "trying to forge that peace," sounded off key.

While there was usually logic behind her answers, her everyman talk only drew greater attention to the lack of nuance and detail in her answers, while Biden, who began the debate seeming tired and ill at ease, started scoring points.

"The issue is, how different is John McCain's policy going to be than George Bush's? I haven't heard anything yet," Biden shot back at one point. "I haven't heard how his policy with Israel is going to be different than George Bush's. I haven't heard how his policy in Afghanistan is going to be different than George Bush's. I haven't heard how his policy in Pakistan is going to be different than George Bush's. It may be. But so far, it is the same as George Bush's. And you know where that policy has taken us."

Firmness on foreign policy was, of course, expected from Biden, who chairs the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. And Palin's lack of expertise on those issues was also expected.

Still, some people had expected even less from her. After a few shaky performances in TV interviews, Palin's basic fitness was being questioned; some people wondered if she'd embarrass herself and McCain.

But last night, in her feisty first half of the debate, she showed why she can be an asset to McCain. And her later, shakier performance still wasn't bad enough to raise new fears about her competence.

That's probably enough to declare the debate a success for Palin.