Sarah Palin exceeds expectations, but Joe Biden takes debate

An instant national poll from CNN gave the vice-presidential debate to Joe Biden over Sarah Palin, but also suggested the Alaskan Governor exceeded expectations. TV viewers tuning in for a spot of 'train wreck television' were seriously disappointed, with Palin clearly benefiting from
48 hours of prepping at John McCain's Arizona ranch.

Fifty-one per cent of respondents to the CNN/Opinion Research Corp poll thought Biden did the best job, while 36 per cent were more impressed by Palin. The same respondents found Palin more likable, scoring 54 per cent to Biden's 36 percent. Seventy per cent said Biden was more of a typical politician.

Both candidates exceeded expectations: 84 per cent thought Palin did a better job than expected, while 64 per cent also said Biden exceeded expectations.

Alexander Cockburn, writing for The First Post today, says Palin put up a spirited performance. "More than once last night I thought Palin must have been watching re-runs of Ronald Reagan's speeches, though decades of deference to Hollywood tycoons made Reagan far more respectful of Wall Street than the Alaskan Governor, who even presumed to introduce the antique phrase 'working class' into the debate. Her first national political run may have only a month to go, but last night she won herself a long-term political future."

LAST UPDATED 8:54 AM, OCTOBER 3, 2008