Vice Presidential Debate Expectations: Obama Camp Calls Palin "Terrific Debater"

**Read all about the Vice Presidential debate.

On a Saturday conference call with reporters, Obama campaign manager David Plouffe called Gov. Sarah Palin "a terrific debater" who has "performed very, very well" in previous debates with opponents in her state.

Politico's Mike Allen writes:

"We've looked at tapes of Gov. Palin's debates, and she's a terrific debater," Plouffe told reporters on a conference call. "She has performed very, very well. She's obviously a skilled speaker. We expect she'll give a great performance next Thursday." [...]

"She's obviously prepping this weekend in Pennsylvania," Plouffe continued. "Anyone who watches any of her previous debates would be impressed by her debating skills."

Obama national press secretary Bill Burton added: "What's missing is knowing where she stands on a lot of the important issues that will come up at the debate. Preparing to debate against someone who is really largely unknown, who's spent so much time preparing for the debate, will be a real challenge.

"She's not out there on the stump that much. She's not doing a whole lot of interviews. So she's spending a whole lot of time -- hours and hours a day, apparently -- preparing for this debate. And we suspect that she'll come in fighting form."

As Allen notes, campaigns regularly play such expectations games in the days leading up to a debate (in this case, Thursday's vice presidential debate).

But despite Palin's multiple cringe-inducing interview moments over the last few weeks, this sentiment from Obama aides is not just theater for the media's consumption. Privately, Democratic campaign officials have sent video clips of Palin's previous debates to the Huffington Post, noting her strong performances against more experienced Alaskan pols.

There is a legitimate sense of unease that the bar has been set so low for Palin that even a modest performance will be seen as a major success -- and that Palin may be capable of much more.

UPDATE: Some footage of Palin at a 2006 debate discussing her opposition to abortion rights:

Comments

[notb observer]

Oh this is really too funny ! Notice the way they stress the word "apparently" when they say that she has been preparing "hour after hour apparently". It's almost cruel ! They are setting this woman up for a plummet from the heights that only Apollo astronauts have experienced during re-entry..­.
Saying that she's a terrific debater is like the shark in Jaws saying that the blonde beach bunny he's about to eat is a good swimmer !
Wait... Maybe I'm just imagining things, and Sarah has been hiding her terrific speaking skills all this time, waiting to spring a trap on the world...
Nah, I think Sarah is going to spend the week sweating in her mukluks :)
Terrific debater indeed ! Hahahaaa ! Of course, the Dems are playing her up to make her failure all the more compelling ! It will be fun to watch... She spent the last few weeks going supernova, and now we're about to get our first real time look at the implosion of a star, and the resulting creation of a black hole ! Get the telescopes focussed boys !

[athenasword]

I still can't imagine that they will let her debate. I'm kind of waiting for Tues or Wed when they announce why she can't...

[qxav949]

Sure, Obama & crew must play up expectations for Palin 'cause currently the bar's so low, it's underground, while Joe Biden has to score an Olympic record in the high jump. That said, the video clip above shows Sarah in her comfort zone - she knows that stuff so that makes her seem coherent. I would argue that she still sounds a bit unsure, though nothing compared to her 3 mainland interviews when she was quizzed about stuff she DOESN'T know. Will she learn more before Thursday? Maybe. Will she be able to go toe to toe with Joe? I say Joe will clear his bar while she trips over hers.

[GunneraGirl]

i can't wait to see biden eviscerate sarah on live television. it's like all those wolves and moose are going to finally be avenged. bring us her left forepaw, joe!


this election year has hardened me! I want a bloodbath!

[athenasword]

I think it is wise to "up the expectations". There are certainly some skills she has honed... She is great wth quick, sharp simplistic answers. She can be snarky. Cute. She can attack the other guy and smile while doing it. (We all remember these girls from Jr. Hi).

However, when it comes to making a point and backing it up w/ facts or stating a position for 2 mintes, she'll sink like a stone. And, Joe will provide a contrast that is very stark - clear, intelligent, informed, experienced.

[notb observer]

Yup, and I think that by and large the "undecideds" are expecting substance.­.. That is perhaps the reason so many are still undecided. They are waiting to see more and hear more from both the presidential and vice-presidential candidates. Snappy biting answers with no substance might appease the retards who already decided she was qualified, but it will not resonate with the undecideds who are looking for real answers.

[garyloewenthal]

I would ask Palin if she agrees with her church's position that homosexuality is a choice.

[Lotus19]

Anti-Palin rally in Alaska

http://www.adn.com/news/alaska/story/539236.html

[lisalouwho71]

Notice how when asked what she would advise her daughter to do, she says twice "I would choose life" meaning it would be her (Sarah's) decision, not her daughter's. I believe in the statement she released about Bristol's pregnancy, it says that the decision to have the baby was Bristol's. Does anyone think that Bristol seriously had a choice?

[LTinCali]

Nope, no, nada.

[AKaurora]

Little known fact -- abortions might be "legal," but none are performed in Alaska. One must fly out of state to have one. It's very easy to say that one makes a choice when there is only one choice to make. Planned Parenthood only distributes birth control information, there are no private clinics, and none of the hospitals allow abortions.

[AlaskanIdealist]

MISINFORMATION ALERT
Yes, you *can* obtain abortions in Alaska. The health care providers that offer this option cannot advertise due to VIOLENT WACKOS. (Though, it is true that Planned Parenthood doesn't perform the procedure. Likely due to aforementioned wackos.)

[AlaskanIdealist]

CORRECTION:
Evidently Planned Parenthood of Alaska *does* perform abortions in Fairbanks, Anchorage and Juneau. Juneau is the most recent addition. Formerly, women in Southeast Alaska (incl. Juneau) would fly to Seattle - or Anchorage - to obtain abortions. (Since our state capital, Juneau, is not on the road system, one has to either fly or be ferried to somewhere on the road system. SO DUMB.)

[Mozart123]

Maybe a master debater.

[elevando]

Get ready for another 2 weeks of Palin media frenzy after the Thursday debate. If she hangs with Joe Biden, it will be considered a win for her. I really believe a respectable performance can move the polls 3 points in McCain's direction.

And remember, as Amy Fowler remarked, "when cornered, Palin becomes increasingly adorable." Oh yeah, this plays big time with the average voter. Why is hollywood so mad people are supporting McCain? You helped create this monster! Look at our prime time programing! You played a role in making Americans more insipid and vain. Now deal with it...

[jem286]

Amy Fowler? Is she the newest member of SNL?

[KQuarksSuperKollider]

I would have voted for one of the two other guys hands down. She gave a Bushian answer and they were thoughtful and hard felt.

[LTinCali]

Not to mention that the first question she did not understand. I was clear on what the question was and then she says, you mean if the legislation was handed to her? Huh? Sarah, pay attention to the actual words the interviewer is asking. She asked you if a senator asked you to support their stance on abortion would you support them, there was not question about voting on legislation.

[pjburns11]

How did those two fine spoken candidates lose to Palin? Alaska must truly be a very cold, dark, lonely place.

Keep Palin in Alaska!

[Carolab]

Don't you recall all the controversy about Alaska's elections?

Read this: http://www.votetrustusa.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogcategory&id=91&Itemid=296

[Bright Creature]

They obviously dont want Pailin to have the "low expectations" cover,, where she goes in and doesnt trip over her tongue and she's decalred a genius. No. They want to talk her up to the skies and hope reality will shine a glaring light down on her in contrast

[Carolab]

Okay, I watched her in that round table for the gubernatorial race. She did fine but the thing that is most alarming is that she said even if her daughter were raped she would still be "pro-life". Also, she didn't seem to understand that a governor shouldn't stand up with a legislator on a constitutional amendment, which cannot be vetoed by the governor. It's the stance on the issue and the obvious lack of caring about the boundaries of the powers of the office that concern me.

[KQuarksSuperKollider]

She gave a Dukakis answer with no emotion that is so scary.

[GeoLee]

She would choose life and apparently not let her daughter make any decision for herself. Apparently daughter was incapalble of making good decisions anyway as demonstrated by her her pregnancy. Eerie how the irony of this discussion in in 1006 played out in 2008. Karma...or in her vocabulary God working in mysterious ways.

[DCinFrance]

I for one, would take nothing for granted, and I hope that Joe doesn't either. She has little to lose; her base likes that she's average. Joe, however, can let go of some real bombs ...like presidents on television before television was invented for example...­when backed into a corner.

[ObamAtomic]

Joe Biden wont be take granted a thing,he's old school politician.

[ObamAtomic]

Unless she's Albert Einstein,her grasping is very normal , below average for a politician.

[Lotus19]

Off the top of my head I can think of many people who would be able to answer Katie's questions a lot more intelligently than she did. Especially the one about the $700 billion dollar bailout. It was a mishmash of ideas with no common thread, from trade not being a bad thing, to job creation, and healthcare reform. It was as if she was on sensory overload from all the cramming. It was bad.

[ObamAtomic]

Surprise him in what way? (W)(M)(D)? Wall Street?
Russia?Spain?Bail Out?