Sun Editors David Wittenberg and Katie Engelhart live blogged the Vice Presidential debate along with a panel of guests from the left and the right. Below you'll find a minute-by-minute breakdown of the pre-debate coverage and of each and every line from both Sen Joe Biden and Gov. Sarah Palin. Who won the night? Let us know in the comments section.

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Thanks to all of our readers for following the debate with us tonight. It was a lot of fun on all counts. Look for our panel to return both in print and online throughout this election, and certainly during the remaining two presidential debates and on election night. Good night!

I think the point is that tonight wasn't a game-changer. But I'm still uncomfortable with this celebration of Palin's restraint. Fine. No major screw-ups. But since when is not screwing up synonymous with being successful? She turned down an opportunity to address McCain's health policy in a meaningful way and also refused to offer substantive answers to questions posed about the war.

Verdict: She didn't harm her party. But she sure as hell didn't help.

At the end of the day, tonight turned out to be a non-event.

Katie Engelhart, signing out.

Off to watch footage of the Canadian debate I missed to talk with you fine folks.

People underestimated Sarah Palin. While Biden seemed coached and spoke on each policy point like clockwork, Sarah spoke to the camera, and to the American people about what needs to change. She connected as a middle class American, small town woman, hockey mom, and PTA member. But she also mentioned her track record and plans going forward. I may have already been a fan, but she certainly impressed me.

Next time we should video blog so you all can witness my killer victory dance.

Have a great night.

It's a gangbang in the Situation Room. I hope everyone enjoys the post-debate punditry.

Again, no clear winner in this debate, but points to Palin for making herself credible again and ending a terrible week with Couric. We'll see how the McCain campaign decides to use Palin in the coming weeks in the campaign, will her press availability increase? Will she appear by herself more often? Will she talk about foreign policy more frequently.

Note: David Gergen says "Conservatives have reason to be happy." Agreed Gergen, that's a rare point for me. Begala says Biden "consistently nailed McCain." What?

And with that I'm signing off. Good night everyone.

And tangentially, does Palin's focus on Israel suggest a big McCain play for the Jewish vote? Are they afraid about losing Florida?

So, let's zoom out a bit everybody to wrap up. What's the take home point from this debate? How will it play as the news and electoral cycles pick back up during the Sunday shows and early next week? What's the message?

And also, what should young voters take from this debate?

Geraldine Ferrarro was criticized for family issues, just as Palin has been. Neither one were given enough credit for their experience and views, the media purely focused on more superficial features and issues. It's disappointing, but it's true.

I don't think this changes the race at all, but it is notable. Perhaps they'll let her actually hold a press conference now, God forbid?

Yet the salient point Rachel and Jordan make is that someone did his or her job during that crash course in Sedona. This is not the same Sarah Palin we saw interviewing with Katie Couric.

They aren't Ferraro-ing Palin. They are going-against-Ferraro-ing Joe Biden / Barack Obama. The parallel isn't between the women, but rather about how these men will conduct themselves around a woman.

Wolf Blitzer calls the affair "relatively polite." Agreed (Although Palin did get more cracks in)

The only game changer here is that people are going to have to stop Geraldine Ferrarro-ing Sarah Palin. She clearly is bright and articulate and can handle the pressure.

The worst that could have happened is for Palin to have slipped up, but she presented herself very well. Why is her mic still on and Biden's is off?

She re-habbed a little, but the Tina Fey image will prove indelible, I think.

Hmmm I'm uncomfortable with Biden's whole 'I want to restore things to the good all moral days... (Go God)' finale.

Here comes the patriotism contest! These guys are running for President and Vice President. I don't think there's any question they're patriotic.

Palin is really into it right now, great Reagan quote drop.

But yes, boring overall, like Biden, rather would be watching "The Office."

I disagree, I think Palin helped rehabilitate her image a little by holding her own against Biden. Again, the DNC wasted a huge opportunity here.

Speaking of invoking Reagan, you have got to imagine the Republicans — pitting McCain against Obama — have got to be scared of the outcome of this election, much as the Democrats, forced to run Carter and then Mondale against a force of charisma like Reagan, must have felt at a built-in disadvantage.

This debate, much as the last, has been pretty boring. No huge breakthroughs. No tectonic shifts in the playing field. No major gaffes or take-downs. Each of these debates have been as-expected. I say there's no game-changer here.

But funny history.

Joe Biden is doing a good job in focusing the debate back on to the Vice Presidents. He needs to show us why he is a strong candidate rather than revert to broad declarations about the Obama ticket that Palin can counter without too much intellectual travail.

McCain's learned lessons from Charles Keating. Ancient history.

Biden's learned lessons from Mike Mansfield and Neil Kinnock.

McCain doesn't have to disgree with his party of every issue to be considered a maverick. If he did he would be called a democrat.

No you can't. But you have to admit he could have thought of a better answer than what he said.

David, you make a good point about the horrible strategy the DNC crafted coming into this debate. It was a Bob Shrum-like timid performance. The fact that he just attacked McCain in an extensive manner now has to be unsettling for Obama nuts.

Yes, Biden!

It really was a mistake for Palin to try to drive home the McCain-as-flexible-Washington-outsider point. Obama owns "change" already. McCain should be playin up his Washinton experience.

Wha-bam! Biden finally came out of his shell and really hit McCain.

Finally! "He has been no maverick."

Palin is right that if this was McCain v. Biden it might make McCain the change candidate. But it's McCain v. Obama. Biden hasn't driven that home, Jordan, and in doing so he's letting Palin drive the narrative.

Yeah, Jordan. But Biden just brought up his dead wife. And you can't fight that.

Palin, nice job picking up the change rhetoric. Biden really dropped the ball there.

Palin does a good job defending the ticket. Biden makes a self-deprecating remark, but he said that he won't change? Are you kidding me Barack Obama is all about change Washington, Joe Biden is Washington!!

"I'm not going to change...35 years in public office"... kind of contradictory to Obama's theme of Change

CJ pointed out a bit ago that these two candidates' states have all of six electoral votes between them.

Palin is repeating herself, about her credentials....

What happened to self-deprecation?? I'm ok with being the most hated man on campus right now.

Question: will Sarah Palin know what an Achilles heel is?

What's the population of Alaska, again?

Sarah Palin just thanked the Constitution.

It was a compliment, how can you take offense to that?

Sarah for the love of G-D, stop saying "darnit," "dog-gone-it," STOP IT! This isn't the 1950's, "Leave it to Beaver." Talk about going backwards?

McCain might not be the Mr. Congeniality of the Senate but Sarah Palin was Miss Congeniality in Miss Alaska pageant, just sayin'.

Bad form of Palin to get on Biden's wife "her reward is in heaven." None of Palin's business!

I understand that, Dave. But I'm not sure I share your absolute cynicism with respect to McCain's record. I personally believe that McCain WAS a candidate of the center. And I think his voting record shows that he USED TO reach across party lines. Unfortunately, his choice of this smiling broad as his Veep is evidence of his radical right sell-out.

It's ironic then that Palin talks about McCain "reaching across the isle" when her very nomination shows McCain's movement away from this moderation.

Right David, Biden did better when he talked about his belief in Obama. His monologue on his populist credentials just seemed disingenuous.

She just said "Say it ain't so, Joe." and "Doggone it!" in the same sentence. It's Biden vs. Elmer Fudd!

Factcheck: there is actually a Main Street in Wasilla, AK.

Now we're on Union Street in Wilmington. Where's College Ave?

He has been bipartisan for years. He isn't winning Mr. Congeniality from the GOP anytime soon because he has been very outspoken on a number of issues. John Kerry asked him to run as a VP, that's how many fans he has on both sides of the aisle. This has been a bitter campaign because you have two people running: 1. The most qualified person to ever run for the oval office. 2. The most unqualified person to ever run.

The Democratic ticket should have been Biden/Obama not Obama/Biden.

But given that, given that campaigns are by definition vicious, why does John McCain continue to pretend that they aren't, and that his campaign has not had a part in it?

I hate to say it but Biden just looked very presidential.

All the way back to the election of 1800, Jordan. I know.

Enough crying about the "most bitter campaign in recent memory." Pundits use that line every single election cycle.

We don't praise politicians for blindly following the party line. What I'm saying is that we should not support this false bipartisanship for the sake of making everyone feel good. John McCain, for years, has preached this politics of bipartisanship and unity and togetherness and yet has turned around when the cameras were off and allowed his advisers to run one of the most vicious, most bitter campaigns in recent memory. So when he says he wants to stop being "partisan," it's dissimulation. It's dishonest. That's what I take issue with.

I agree with Rachel. Why do we praise politicians for blindly following the party line?

"Americans are cravin' that straight talk." Hah.

She sounds like she's about to ask Biden out on a date

Reaching across the aisle is not overrated because it shows that a politician is willing to decide issue-to-issue and not just vote as a puppet of his/her own party.

Bosniaks is a word. No gaffe there.

This is new: boots on the ground in Darfur?

Joe Biden sounds like he would rather be watching "The Office." He's mailing this one in.

Bosniacs?

My vote is he's bored.

So what? These parties disagree on huge, substantive issues. "Reaching across the aisle" is overrated, and I wouldn't expect it from politicians of conviction in either party. (Bailout being a notable exception)

How very politically nuanced of Palin to bring up NATO.

Is Biden out of breath from standing for too long? Or is he just bored?

"Barack Obama" and "reaching across the aisle" should never be paired in the same sentence given his voting record.

And if he subtly pressured her into making a mistake.

I disagree Dave. He may have been instructed to fight to a draw, but this could have been the nail in the coffin for Palin and the Republican ticket if he performed better.

Can we PLEASE get a president who doesn't have a ranch this time?

Thank you, Joe. Two wars. Not one. Two wars. Two distinct origins. Two distinct strategies.

I like how Joe Biden talks about himself in the third person

Biden's mandate is to refrain from taking a shot at her until he fights this to a draw. Her credibility's been shot since weeks ago. Biden just needs to make sure he doesn't commit a gaffe.

Sam, looks like that time she spent at the Arizona ranch did some good.

Palin is controlling the pace right now.

I agree with Sam. Her doubletalk is so odious, but it's working.

Biden sounds like a broken record. TAKE A SHOT AT PALIN ALREADY.

Sidenote: I once ran into John Kerry at Rosh Hashanah services.

"Past is prolouge" is never a good joke Joe.

Palin's been coached well. When she can't answer a question, she talks about something else. Very effective, seriously.

I wonder if Sarah Palin went to Rosh Hashanah services?

Obama was opposed to the West Bank vote? Was he consulting with his friend Rashid Khalidi?

Say what you want about Plain, Dave, but Obama has little credibility on the Israel issue.

P.S. Biden "hiss" ...Bad News Bears

Yes but the important point is that Iraq, since the beginning, has been a mistake partly in that it was a distraction from Afghanistan — and Pakistan, and Lebanon, and Russia, and North Korea, and every other legitimate foreign policy issue we've ignored for the past seven years of mismanagement.

The importance of Afghanistan is a political point about the nature of the terrorist threat in 2003 — which was in Afghanistan, in Pakistan, in those mountains and with Osama bin Laden. There was no "Al Qaeda in Iraq" until George W. Bush invaded Iraq.

You're right, Dave. Going off that, I think that a prime characteristic of this campain has been the ease with which the candidates substitute Afghanistan for Iraq and vice versa. Somehow being tough on Afghanistan makes up for Iraq?

They're both full of Muslim people, right? Same deal I guess.

This is important -- Mac had a senior moment when he thought that the PM of Spain was some Latin American leader

and her hair looks fabulous!

Joe Biden's record started skipping...

Palin is rocking that flag. Kudos on the patriotism governor.

But Jordan makes a really salient point -- Biden and Obama's hawkishness on Afghanistan (and Pakistan) is good inoculation against claims they're too dovish on Iraq.

I think that Palin, who has had the head of Jews for Jesus speak at her church, should can it on Israel.

Katie, I guess the same point applied for Obama when it comes to McCain's record on the war.

Yeah, four more years of nookoolar might not be tolerable.

New-CLEAR! Jeepers creepers. But honestly, I bet NUCULAR is as calculated as anything else.

Palin just associated herself with an Al-Qaeda leader. Never a good idea. Seem 9/11, War in Iraq.

Did someone prep her to say "NEW-cular" like George W. Bush?

YES YES YES YES NUCULAR!

Biden comes back with a strong answer on Afghanistan. He uses good hawkish rhetoric on Afghanistan that will resonate with independent voters.

If Biden knows where Bin Laden lives, why doesn't he go capture him?

It's easy for a woman who has never held an office of great significance to criticize her opponent's political record. But we all know that...

You better believe those comments Biden made on McCain vs Obama in the primary will come out in campaign videos before election day

Biden screws up by repeating what he said in the previous question. It's amazing to see him mess up an answer on his supposed area of expertise.

"I love him??" Enough! Point goes to Palin.

Palin made a great point about Biden's remark in the primary debates that Obama wasn't ready to be commander-in-chief. Kudos.

Palin on the offensive. ouch. Surrender!

Damn, Palin just hit Biden on his strong point.

Will he hit back with equal fervor?

But I think your point is interesting, Dave. The issue of giving basic privileges to homosexual couples is increasing a non-issue.

Yes, the "redefinition of marriage" is still a hot button issue. But tolerance for homosexuality is a different kind of discussion entirely.

I don't think gay marriage is as big an issue in this election as it was in 2004. The economy dominates.

David makes a good point about the gay marriage issue.

What's interesting is that the Republican position on gay marriage has moderated slightly while the Democratic position remains far too moderate.

This country is so Puritanical. How it is possible that more than half of this country can't come to terms with same-sex marriage? Can't we focus on a more important issue? Like the trillions of dollars in deficit we'll owe after this war and economic crisis?

Let's move on to gay marriage though. I think this is one area where college students are far ahead of the candidates.

Joe Biden is a coward.

How can you support privileges for homosexual couples and not their right to join in a civil union.

I hate this country...

Is this a surprise, Barack Obama nor Biden support gay marriage on a federal level?

She won't say it's caused by people, though.

And this country needs to see a commitment to a Manhattan project for renewable energy, and tax credits for renewable energy, etc. Not more oil.

She acknowledges global warming is occurring (although in this decade the atmosphere has not gotten warmer) and she has solutions. What else could you ask for?

Drilling is a further, ahem, marriage of our country to fossil fuels. not what most people want to hear.

Right, CEOs set the price of oil. Has nothing to do with cartel pricing...

She knows a lot about energy, Jordan, but for moderate voters, an energy policy that refuses to acknowledge global warming and high gas prices and oil companies fleecing everyday Americans and whose central tenet is "drill baby, drill" is far from a strong point.

Drilling is a positive, and both candidates are for it,so I don't think I understand why you consider it a negative...

Palin hits on her strong point, energy.

Biden might get himself into trouble talking about his previous votes. Gaffe city?

I cannot BELIEVE she just cited "Drill, baby, drill!" as a positive. It is an embarrassment. and the only people "All across this country" who have chanted it are the corporate titans at the RNC.

"hundreds of trillions" - Palin

That's precious.

Oh, I thought Obama wanted to invest in "unsafe nuclear"

Speaking of the polar ice cap, Sarah Palin was one of the few politicians to come out against the Polar Bear Protection Act of 2006.

I can't believe Palin is lauding the American approach to combatting climate change. Bringing other nations on board? Is she kidding?

Sarah Palin on climate change: I live in Alaska, the only artic state. Did you know that she also watched Vladimir "I saw God in his soul" Putin fly over the artic state?

Saying "we have a problem" does not qualify you to have the right solution. Congress is largely democrats, if we're placing blame, there's a good place to start.

Not only responsibility, Katie, but also judgment. If a corporation's looking to hire a turnaround artist, you don't hire the exec who got you into the hole in the first place. John McCain's support of the war from the beginning is relevant because the presidency is about judgment and character.

Palin is starting to get aggressive, this is what she needs to do.

I disagree, Rachel. It's integral to determine who was responsible for formulating destructive policy. The old "let's look foward" debate is an easy way for Republicans to sidestep the issue of responsibility.

Hmm. Perhaps that's because she doesn't know what a subprime mortgage crisis is?

Sarah Palin has decided that she will make the debate format

But let's try to bring this back for a moment, guys. We're a half an hour in. Objectively, who's winning?

At the very least, Palin is holding her own — especially given the Hindenburg-esque expectations. What do you think, guys?

Right, but why not an American company?

Joe Biden is repeating himself on the subprime mortgage crisis...who cares who identified it was a problem--what are you going to do about it?

Conventional wisdom of VP picks is to choose a candidate who compliments the presidential nominee. Palin does that and has riled up the conservative base. The RNC took in $66 million in September a new record.

I'd rather a private company be able to build the pipeline then have the government build it.

Palin taking on oil and gas? Joke. Just this August, she gave a Canadian company the rights to build a $27 billion pipeline. And with due respect to Katie, at least the pipeline could be American-made.

Obama was about change and then chose Biden, who has been in the Senate for years

Sarah Palin is a living example of Senator McCain "saying one thing, then going back on it, and saying the opposite"--to paraphrase her brilliance. McCain was all about experience first, and then chose Mrs. Palin, the most unqualified VP choice in the history of this country.

Sarah Palin vs. Greed.

Biden did a good sidestep there by claiming to cut the increase of foreign assistance. No one cares about that issue. There will obviously be other cuts.

"McCain will tax health care," plus the Bridge to Nowhere crack? Biden's on fire.

What if you get fired? Will you be without insurance? Will you have to switch providers when you get a new job?

Democrats control Congress, but we get the point.

Senator McCain has a "good" health plan. Did you know that McCain's plan won't cost Americans anything? Just ask Sarah Palin.

She just made a crack about the way the federal government has been running things lately. Sorry which party is in power now?

Palin does a good job calling out Biden's remark about the patriotism of paying taxes.

Although Gwen Ifill just held her hand in taking her over to healthcare.

Speaking of FWS, Sam, Slate has a feature that attempts to diagram Palin's sentences from the Couric interviews.

lower taxes, limited government, country first

It shows where her priorities lie and what she stands for

And, really who cares what her trackrecord as mayor is? There's no parallel to be drawn between smalltown Alaska and the federal government. Whether or not she reduced taxes as a mayor is absolutely irrelevant.

Internet just went down for a bit, Time Warner is a joke, shows you the efficiency of monopolies.

Learn how to 'spoke' English

I know it's classic spin doctor dogma to "reject the premise of the question," but SP does this to a fault. Voters saw through her refusal to answer with Couric and they'll see through it now.

Sarah Palin needs to take a freshmen writing seminar.

That cut off was ridiculous

I think that it was smart of Biden to bring up healthcare. And it was very very silly of Palin to turn down the opportunity to respond to his charge.

"Joe Six Pack" and "maverick" have each made their first of probably too many appearances. The thrust of which is that McCain is Clint Eastwood and the American voter is...Homer Simpson?

He can talk all he wants about John McCain being out of touch, but Sarah Palin--union member, soccer mom, small town girl--gets the needs of an average American. She is very articulate in explaining John McCain's policies, an interesting question would be where she differs from him on the issues.

This spin is the biggest malarkey of all time. Mac's "fundamentals of the economy" meant the workforce? Yeah right.

Biden has one of the most liberal voting records in the Senate, so much for "reaching across the aisle."

Shit. Biden just pulled an old man move - getting confused by the debate rules.

She looks terrified.

"The barometer is going to be resounding."

What the hell does that mean?

Biden hits the policy, Palin appears to be pulling at the heartstrings.

Big bad CEOs. The Democrats have entered the house.

Biden needs to lay off the self-tanner.

Guarantee you "can I call you Joe?" has been planned by her handlers for three weeks

Sam's computer crapped out due to his insolent comments.

She is a genius.

Guess that answers our question about whether or not she'll be too stiff.

O M G. "Can I call you Joe?"

Brilliant.

"Hey, can I call you Joe?"

These debate rules are pretty badass. Is there going to be ANY opportunity for these two to go at it?

I don't think she comes out on top if she forms a complete sentence Fabian. Maybe if she mentions a newspaper or two...but a 3 year old can complete a sentence.

So now that the commentary's gone, what channel are we watching? CNN for the debate-o-meter?

Oh no, CNN has posted "analyst scorecards." What's next?

Oh, the veep debate. I think Palin's a huge huge draw.

Yes, Sam. We have 57 million viewers.

Right. Again, expectations for her are very low If she forms a complete sentence she comes out on top.

The most watched VP debate was Bush vs. Ferraro in 1984.

Ifill's in a wheelchair due to a broken leg, btw.

Right. The Couric interview, with each new day of released material, has been absolutely bruising.

Do we think more people are watching this debate than the Presidential debate?

It's kind of paradoxical.

It's her biggest test yet... but she's screwed up so bad already that I'm not sure she has anything more to lose.

He ran for the head of the Liberal party and lost.

Agreed Katie. Fox said the McCain campaign took Palin to McCain's ranch in Sedona for three days to calm the nerves. This is her biggest test yet.

Lest we forget, all-time Cornell hockey hero Ken Dryden '67 was a Canadian cabinet minister as well as a Stanley Cup (and NCAA champion) goalie.

I actually think the point being made on Fox has some validity. How hard has the McCain team prepped Palin and is she going to appear stiff tonight?

'Fair and Balanced!'

I'm watching fox news right now. I'm going to kill Fabian.

All-Star panel on Fox News right now, Barnes, Kondracke, Kristol, Kristen Powers...

Anyone speak French?

Stephen Harper can see Alaska from his house!

Well I couldn't resist.

And those Canadian PM debates get pretty violent. Anyone want to blog the Canadian elections?

Nice job poisoning the well.

How about those Canadian PM debates??

Totally sexist! Let's stick to the men. Like Brit Hume and his carrot-orange tan.

Yeah, boys. Let's talk about Biden's hair plugs.

But make sure we don't suggest Palin's powdering her nose. Because that would be sexist... right?

A Brit Hume appearance, finally!!

I'd say 90 minutes at least.

What is also interesting is that Ifill's book has been google-able on Amazon for months — and yet the McCain campaign just brought it up 36 hours ago. I'm sure Gwen will, cognizant of this, be very careful to appear disinterested.

Sam just thought of that one in the shower.

Over/under on how much time Biden spends on the hair plugs before TV appearances... 45 minutes?

Whoopi Goldberg has ruined The View. But that's a whole other blog...

And yes, Dave - I saw the promo. Maybe the show will be about adventures in Hucktown

Since when did "The View" become so politically current?

I have internet!

I think the most interesting thing to see this debate is how the moderator behaves now that her partisanship has been revealed.

Gwen Ifill is the author of a forthcoming book celebrating the politics and career of Senator Barack Obama. Her book is titled The Breakthrough: Politics and Race in the Age of Obama, and is scheduled to be published on Inauguration Day—January 20, 2009. She obviously has both an ideological and a financial interest in the success of the Obama-Biden campaign, one of the parties to this debate. If that isn’t a clear conflict of interest, I don’t know what would be.

Ok, we'll agree to disagree. But the point about Palin proving herself is true.

Another issue to watch is the choice of PBS's Gwen Ifill as the moderator. The conservative blogosphere has been up in arms over her selection, noting her new book due out on Inauguration Day entitled “The Breakthrough: Politics and Race in the Age of Obama.”

It's unlikely that she will ask overtly biased questions, but it does make you wonder. For a journalist, or for that matter anyone who cares about this debate, the conflict of interest is completely unsettling.

I disagree that he has to make it about Barack to come out on top. This debate is very much a test of Sarah Palin. If McCain is elected and he croaks, this broad could very well take charge. And people know that.

Biden needs to hit home how absolutely incapable she is as a diplomatic leader. This debate is about the Veeps.

Has anyone seen fmr. Ark. Gov. Mike Huckabee's new Fox show "Huckabee," yet? They just promo'd it.

I hear he breaks out his electric bass.

He needs to make this about Barack. But another Palin gaffe or two couldn't hurt.

Right, and like I suggested before, Biden was selected to be pretty inobtrusive.

I actually think keeping the focus on the presidential candidates will be more effective. The candidates need to remind the voters why their ticket is the best. Voters quickly forget about these debates, especially since they conduct only one of them.

I resent that.

I agree with you that Palin has to bounce back. But I think she's in a kind of unique position here in that there isn't ANYTHING she can say that will surprise us.

Joe Biden needs to make sure he's focused in his attack. Biden vs. Palin - we can declare the winner already. Biden needs to keep the debate centered on the VP candidates and steer it away from attacks on Obama and McCain.

Also, when's the last time Bill O'Reilly ever referred to "the dreaded sexism?" I thought it was his stock in trade.

Biden has to keep his head down. Expectations for Palin are so low that the smallest gaffe on his part will be blown out of proportion.

A lot of the conventional wisdom also suggests that Biden should keep the focus on the presidential candidates.

That said, Sarah Barracuda is coming to play. Biden needs to be able to hit back, too, when he needs to.

Ok, let's get serious for a moment. What does each VP candidate have to do to make this debate a success for the campaign?

In my opinion, Palin has to get past her vacation from hell with Katie Couric. She has to reconnect with the television audience like she did during the RNC. Hitting Obama and going on the offensive will probably help her come out as a more trustworthy public figure. Those poll numbers up.

What does Biden have to do, my pinko colleagues?

Speaking of her political image, Katie, many stories suggest her designer specs are selling out

Is Bill O'Reilly really promo-ing his new book?

A technical point - Wolf has just informed me that it as a "magic map"

Keith: "Palin went to four colleges and nobody ever mentioned Dredd Scott"

Magic screen is closely rivaled by Keith Olbermann's '77 "Worst Person in the World" feature. On now.

"CNN FACT: Palin has a journalism degree."

That's why she has been so successful at crafting her political image...

"And then we're going to have the nose tackle run the ball in a figure 8 formation"

I love the magic screen. Everyone loves the magic screen.

Uh oh, the Situation Room just whipped out their touch-screen map. This is almost as brilliant as their "perception analyzer."

I'm not sure the silent majority is as enamored of Barney as I am, but if there's anyone who plays into O'Reilly's combative style — and at the same time is at the heart of the response to the financial crisis — he's it. So it's an ingenious choice, at the least.

Is the pope Catholic?

Will Fox's decision to play this interview during the pre-debate coverage jack up their ratings for the debate?

Barney "Yeah, well this is why your stupidity gets in the way of a rational discussion."

Wow that hand wave looked a lot like a certain wartime salute...

Billo is about to reach escape velocity.

COWARD!!! HE'S A COWARD!!

Barney Frank and Bill O'Reilly in a clash of the titans right now.

Second that on the Situation Room. Someone needs to get Rove (Fox), Gergen (CNN) and Buchanan (MSNBC) in the same room so they can all have a meltdown together.

It's possible, although Rove played that down on the Factor, saying that a major gaffe might hurt even worse.

But the idea here is that Bush Sr. tarnished his image in his debate vs. Ferraro. Is it possible that Joe Biden will come across paternalistic when debating someone who is clearly his intellectual inferior?

Biden better not say that Hillary should be on stage instead of himself.

P.s. How ridiculous can the set of "The Situation Room" get? They are going to be hanging from bungee cords next.

And that's true about women in debates — remember Rick Lazio? Of course you don't. Because he crashed and burned after he was seen to have patronized Hillary during their U.S. Senate race.

But to paraphrase Lloyd Bentsen, Sarah Palin is no Hillary Clinton.

Ferraro has been in the news since the summer when she first suggested help pay back Clinton's campaign debts, drawing the ire of the left.

And yes Dave, the Obama poster does reek of a little cult of personality cult of personality .

Thank you for the welcome, Dave. And thanks for the warning, Jordan. Serious sniping…

Dave you’re right in saying that Ferraro is everywhere! I’m watching CNN’s pre-coverage of the debate right now and it’s all about the ladies.

These commentators are suggesting that Joe Biden has to be especially careful while debating Palin – they warn that men in the past have “ruined” their political careers because of the way they behave when they’re facing off against a woman.

They showed a preview of the Frank interview on Fox Report with Sheppard Smith... it's dynamite

Also: Billo announces that Barney Frank is "mad at The Factor, and we're mad at him."

This is going to be fun.

Ferraro to O'Reilly: "It's Palin vs. Palin right now."

!) Ferraro has suddenly been all over the television

2) True? I think so. None of us would be as interested in this if it didn't feature the subject of those SNL skits. Can you imagine what the ratings would have been for Biden vs. Romney?

These McCain-Palin signs in the crowd behind Chris Matthews just now were black and yellow. Why? What country are they running for president of, Flanders?. As creepy as I find these, I can't imagine that the other side finds those Obey Giant Obama signs any less so.

Hey everyone,

The pre-debate coverage is starting to heat up. CNN, MSNBC, and Fox News all have dedicated coverage airing right now.

If only they could put Olbermann and O'Reilly in a cage so they can duke it out...

Karl Rove just went on the Factor and said Joe biden is "genetically presdisposed to make gaffes every other day."

Get ready for some serious sniping.

Welcome to The Sun's second debate live blog of this election cycle. Tonight, Sarah Palin and Joe Biden square off at Washington University in St. Louis, Mo.

I'm David Wittenberg, The Sun's associate editor (I run the opinion section). Our panel of analysts for tonight's debate also includes:

Katie Engelhart, Sun Senior Editor, Opinion

Sam Levine, Editor in Chief, The Cornell Progressive

Jordan Fabian, Editor at Large, The Cornell Review, and

Rachel Quigley, Review Staff Writer and Sun Contributing Columnist

Strap in tight — this is going to be quite a ride. And thanks for watching!