Biden On Debate Prep: I Won't Take Palin's Bait

LANSING, Mich. — Democrat Joe Biden has tapped Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm to be the stand-in for Sarah Palin as he prepares for next month's vice presidential debate.

Biden predicted that Palin would try to make their debate personal and said he wouldn't respond in kind if she attacked him.

"She's going to try to make it as personal as she can. She's going to take a lot of straight lefts and jabs at me, she's going to try to get me to respond, she's going to try to get me to respond in a personal way," Biden said at a fundraiser Tuesday night in Chicago. "That's not my style. I'm not going to do it."

Biden said Granholm had agreed to spend four days with him to help prepare for the Oct. 2 debate in St. Louis. The Obama-Biden campaign asked for her assistance, and she was pleased to accept, Granholm spokesman Liz Boyd said Wednesday.

Granholm, 49, graduated from the University of California-Berkeley and Harvard Law School. She is married with three children.

Granholm's superior performance in some of her 2006 debates against Republican opponent Dick DeVos, a businessman whose father co-founded Amway Corp., was credited with helping her win re-election despite the state's struggling economic performance.

According to the pool report from Tuesday's events, Biden said he'll be concentrating on national issues when he debates Palin.

"I'm not into the small-bore stuff. I don't care whether or not she built a bridge to nowhere. I don't care if she sold a plane," he said.

"What I care about is what in God's name is she going to do _ along with John McCain _ about the thousands of people who don't have health care," those struggling with other economic problems, and the foreign policy challenges facing the country, Biden said.

Comments

[EvoMan]

McCain/Palin Press Avoidance Tour 08!

[loax]

As long as they stick to the issues, there is no way palin can win. Biden is right, she will snipe and try to make this a personality contest. If he remains focused on issues, and forces her to answer the same questions, she will be badly beaten in this debate! Go Biden!!!

[white mende man]

Yo Palin/McCain (yes in that order) why has the Bush Administration made Iran stronger than it has ever been since the Shah was in power? Do you know that Iran is Shi'ia just like the so-called government in Iraq? do you know that Iran (our "gravest" enemy as Bush puts it) will be partnered with Iraq when we leave Iraq?

[Ged2012]

Biden knows how to deal with Sarah.

He has thirty years of marriage to train him how to deal with someone like Palin.

And by the way, Biden's wife is a lot more attractive than Sarah.

[patianneb]

better hope joe doesn't see this. i doubt that he or anyone in his family would take kindly to the "how to deal with someone like pa*in." i'm sure you didn't mean it that way, but what an insult!

[larchibald]

I agree with you on all three counts, especially the third.

[JackND]

Good points, all.

Biden's wife seems absolutely charming. Palin seems snarky.

[patianneb]

BIDEN: "This election is NOT about YOU, Governor, it is about the people of the United States of America, of which you, like me, are only one.
"Now, with that in mind......."




implied: "bite me"

[Clemonc]

Count down time to find Sarah the pit bull with lipstick!!! 11 days and counting running from the press. Start the clock now

[OhioJan]

Yeah, & "charlie gibson" doesn't count as "the Press"!

[SoCalM]

Where's Sarah?

[PumaAnn]

Preparing for the debates, taking care of governing her state, and getting ready for the Thursday interview with Gibson, which I predict will be a blockbuster night for ABC.

[Eoin45]

Will you please take your drivel elsewhere. No one cares what you think or what you predict. You've proven that, just like Sarah Palin, you think the election's all about you. We don't need spoiled brats around here.

[McChimp]

lol blockbuster my b u t t, its on 911, we'll be remembering how Bush f'ed up and let Al Qaida hit us.

[OhioJan]

Hey, puma, why don't you head over to

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/09/09/mccain-ad-cites-articles_n_125218.html

So you can get into a REAL "debate"? I'll meet you there in 5 minutes.

THEN, when the TRUE American's, with empathy & INTELLIGENCE, give you and "education", head on over to

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/09/09/mccain-ad-obamas-lone-edu_n_125205.html

to learn a little bit more.

[emmaspeaks]

She's going to put on her attack, pit bull, facade, no doubt. But, will she answer questions. she'll attack, attack , attack, and be loud with the issues she knows....she'll use a strong voice and stay composed. Biden has to redirect everything back to issues.....show his smarts and not get into it with her. Practice is always a good idea.

[Bluejay00234]

Agreed.

[TheNuff]

There BETTER BE BLOOD!!! I want to see blood.

GO Biden!!! *\o/*

Do Not Forget What This Election is About!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PdJUCU1UH2w

The Nuff

[emmaspeaks]

Joe, and everyone else....Every time they do it, or lie, or spin...say "there they go again.' That just says it all. Let them hear it over and over again.

[smed]

Yes - agreed -- call them out quickly, but not with that self-righteous smirk that McCain used in the debates.

[Myrell002]

Joe will wipe the floor w/ her sorry (you know what) ... I can't wait!!!!!

I'm a women and i'm sick of all the sexist crap. She wanted to play w/ the big boys.. Joe is about to show her how it's really done!

[Bluejay00234]

Yep.

[Xgal08]

This is going to be good. Biden's so awesome. Let her try to bait him. When moose knuckle is finished whinning in her annoying, high pitched voice, He will put her in her place with a smile!

[Plashyfen]

theone718 is right. All the raves about Palin's canned RNC speech were set up by low expectations of her. It actually was a lousy, over-rehearsed speech delivered in a nasal whine, punctuated by wooden gestures and an ugly smirk. But hey! Caribou Barbie kin reed reel good--who knew!

Let's expect--let's demand--her to be Joe's absolute equal in everything. After all, as a candidate for the second highest office in the land, she should be. There is nothing sexist about high expectations.

[Grunty1]

"There is nothing sexist about high expectations"

Thanks. Everyone should use that as the automatic response to any troll.

[GhostNyc]

It was basically insults tossed at Obama. As a comedian it was perfect. As a politician vying for the WHITE HOUSE, I would have expected more.

NOT ONE WORD ON- HEALTHCARE, ECONOMY, ENERGY, EDUCATION, IRAQI WAR

FOUR MORE YEARS OF HYPOCRISY, LIES, DECEPTION
FOUR MORE YEARS OF MANIPULATING OUR FEARS
FOUR MORE YEARS OF TWISTING OUR FAITHS IN EFFORTS TO JUSTIFY KILLING AND SUPPORT INJUSTICE

ENOUGH

[RoseBlue]

Biden understands the best way to take down Palin, or any republican, is to use her greatest weakness against her. She and McCain have no answers. They are on empty. And Biden is going to call her on it. There is a lot of screaming right now for democrats to get dirty and hit back hard. Well this is the hardest hit possible: let the republicans hang themselves by their own hatred, intolerance and cynicism

[Ramirez]

"The press is exaggerating how white women are all of a sudden for Sarah Palin," Joe Biden said.

[KMan1]

He is spot on.

[Grunty1]

He is talking about that all the polls showing a "bump" are oversampling Republican voters!

[TrooAmerican]

Go Joe Go! Go Joe Go! Go Joe GO!