Palin's Debate Strategy and How Biden Can Beat It

I'd bet all the money I have right now (which is about $3.50 thanks to the stock market) that the McCain campaign is prepping Sarah Palin for the debates with two connected mantras, right now:

1) The clock is Biden's enemy, and
2) Pride comes before the fall

A few things have become apparent during Sarah Palin's interviews over the past few weeks.

First and foremost, she has a very shallow understanding of the issues (to put it generously), and often jumbles up talking points in her head, leading to confusing, nonsensical answers when forced to address an issue. Example A of that would be her answer to Katie Couric on the bailout.

Second, when she is challenged on an issue which she didn't expect, and has no talking points for, she's unable to recover, and comes off as clueless as she probably is. Example B would be her answer on the Bush Doctrine with Charles Gibson.

Third, is that the McCain campaign telegraphed what they are happy with, which is when Palin shows herself able to hit back at questions without answering them - Sarah Barracuda, as they call it. Handlers crowed to Politico that they saw this in her latest interview with Couric.

This all lends itself to a strategy of Palin avoiding answering any questions in the debate that she's not comfortable with, and instead trying to shift the focus to attacks on Joe Biden. This strategy makes sense for the two reasons above. Biden is proud of his record and could feel the need to defend it, but, he only has two minutes in the highly structured format of this debate. So, the more he falls to temptation to defend his record, the less time he has to talk about what he and Senator Obama want to do. Additionally, it allows Palin to look tough and confident, with the seasoned Senator on the defensive.

Here's how it would work. A question about the bailout comes up:

• Palin offers a programmed sentence about it, then talks about the need for reform in Washington so the crooks on Wall Street can't do this again, and then she brings up Biden's work on credit card issues as an example of how Washington has been corrupted, and the moniker "The Senator from MBNA."

• Now Biden has two minutes. He could be tempted to defend his record, and with Biden's loquacious nature, could use all 120 seconds on his record, leaving him no time to talk about what he and Obama would do.
  

How do you beat a strategy like that? You coach Biden hard to deflect attacks with no more than 15 seconds in response and then pivot immediately by saying, "... but that's not the issue here. We need to address how we will help the Middle Class survive this economic meltdown..." Follow that with an explanation of the Obama-Biden Plan.

Biden also needs to monitor how many times Palin attacks without answering a question. At a certain point, when Biden feels that the perception has sunk in that Palin hasn't said anything about where she and McCain stands, Biden needs to do what doesn't come naturally to him - shut up.

Joe Biden should say, at that point: "You know, I have to say, I was really interested in coming here tonight and hearing more about where Governor Palin wants to take the nation with John McCain, but all I've heard are talking points about me, especially with that last question. So, I'd like to yield my time here back to Governor Palin, if you want it Governor Palin, because I think we ought to know what you and John McCain want to do."

That accomplishes two things: First, it forces Palin to talk about something she cannot talk about (i.e., issues), if she accepts the extra time. She can dig her own grave from there. But it also puts her on warning that if she sticks to the strategy of attacking Biden, she might get called on it, and be forced to go back and reanswer the initial question. At that point, she might be scared off the attack strategy. Again, she'd then have to try to answer questions, and would undoubtedly fail.

Can Biden do it? Sure he can. But, it will take recognition on the part of the Obama camp that Sarah Barracuda is coming to play, and poke and prod Biden's pride until he flies off his game and message points. And, more importantly, it will take Biden recognizing that this debate, and this race, is not about him.

Comments

[Bombenhagel]

When they shake hands at the beginning of the debate, Joe can lean in close and tell her, "I'll crush you into dust" because you can say that without moving your lips. :)

[enoughofthiscrapalready]

I just tried that & you're right - ha ha

[enoughofthiscrapalready]

Well if Joe had any plans to use that line it's all ruined now because of the piece. I can see the headlines now: "Biden plagarized Huffington Post"...

[Turtleposer]

I think Eric Schmeltzer made excellent points which I hope Biden follows. It's obvious that Biden's proud of his record as well he should be. However, he should suspend this pride for the debate. We all know him & we know the debate is really about Sarah Palin & what she knows. Anyway he can turn the dialogue over and get Palin to speak more on a subject, he should go for it. Besides, Palin's clearly out of her element.

I think Biden's going to have a rougher time. His goal should be to remain relaxed and focused on passing the ball to Palin as often as he can--a losing strategy in football, but necessary for this debate. I think Palin's going to win anyway, not due to substance, but style and low expectations. She'll respond to some question by saying, "Well, I'm not one of those East Coast girls with her nose in the NY Times. I'm a woman who can take charge and get my hands dirty. Has Biden ever killed a moose? I think not." She'll have them howling. In the McCain strategist's eyes, they're trying to score points on her ability to out-folksy Biden. She'll do that.

The Obama's strategy in case of a win such is this is to not make much of it. Give Palin her day in the sun. Hopefully, it'll be her last.

[gdcb1128]

It used to be that my nerves were in a jumble for the Red Sox come October. When the Red Sox in the playoffs is actually a relaxing diversion for me, the world is topsy turvy indeed....Keepin' the faith here.

Yes, We Can! Yes, We Will!!

[PasadenaGirl]

I hope that Eric and the other Huff Post writers who have great suggestions for Biden have a direct line into their campaign debate prep staff. We agree that we can't let them set the bar too low, do they? Let's hope they can "respectfully" not let her off the hook -- she agreed to play in the big leagues after all.

[Happiness4All]

Biden should open the debate as follows:
“Welcome Gov. Palin and thanks for showing up tonight. Earlier this week I was getting worried I would be debating Rudy Giuliani tonight. And we all know what the difference is between a pitbull and Rudy Giuliani: Lipstick.”

That should rattle her a bit

[MrKnuckles]

Dear Joe Biden,

Just keep going back again and again to the debate topics Governor Plain obviously has the most difficulty in answering until she runs out of pat responses and hangs herself.

Also...

Make a very big point of bringing up Hillary Clinton's name and accomplishments. Clearly and dramatically link her highest ideals and goals with those of Barack Obama and force Palin into attacking Hillary by simple association. That way you can rightfully and forcefully pose as the champion and defender of both and thus be seen as the good guy twice over!

[obamagal]

great ideas.

[LetMeUnderstandThis]

She Cant 't Talk about :

1) Energy
Joes response could be - But Senator McCain has voted no on serveral Alternate Energy Bills
(state Obama case)

2) Heathlcare In particular Childrens
Joes response could be - Senator McCain has voted NO to extending Health Care for Children!
(state Obama case)

3) Economics
Joes response could be - Senator McCain has admitted he "Knows nothing about Economics, so
how can give imput on the economy let alone the current crises we
have now!? (state Obama case)

[MinasTirith]

I do have a feeling that they (The McCain Camp and the running Palin hysteria) are intentionally lowering expectations for Palin, so much so, that if she as much as shows up and says her name correctly that she'll be touted as a 'winner'.

More importantly though, any sense of 'toughness' on her part will immediately register larger than life on the MSM radar... they'll spin it in to an 'Unexpected Victory for Governor Palin!'

Think about it... McCain was a doddering, angry, off topic clown on stage who didn't have the courage to look his opponent in the eye, and they said he won!

If Pailin even shows up without McCain canceling due to the 'Economic Crisis', then she'll win.

This thing is starting to teeter on the edge where people feel sorry for her because she's not the brightest bulb on the tree, yet she's 'fighting her way through it with pride and dignity' or some other rhetoric. There may be just enough backlash for it to show up as a W in her column, at least in the minds of the equally dull witted.

In the end, it's not going to be about who has the better product... it's going to be about who makes the better sh*t salesman.

Even if they are talking with a mouthful of samples.

[Indepatriot]

I think Biden should ask Palin to explain the three branches of government,how they work together, and how they keep each other in check. I'd bet my house she couldn't pass a Middle School civics exam.

[MrKnuckles]

Why not just confound her by asking her, "How much wood can a woodchuck chuck?"

[Jocalo]

Heeheehee!

[GarthR]

Attacking McCain ruthlessly over issues where Palin's record indicates agreement with Obama is likely to trip her up. Issues like the excess profits tax on oil companies (which Obama proposed and Palin accomplished in Alaska) or attacking major al Qaida figures in Pakistan are two possibilities. This seems like a fertile field for gaffe production.

[wheresthebeef]

The Obama campaign has been run almost without flaw so far. These are very smart people, and the idea that they don't already have a firm strategy for dealing with Sarah Palin is almost as laughable as Palin herself. That said, this is Biden's to lose. He just needs to shut the hell up and let Palin hang herself out to dry in front of 50 million or so viewers. Pass the popcorn, please. This should be a doozy.

[Isome]

It does seem ridiculous, but we on the outside looking in don't want to see them screw up something so seemingly simple like giving Palin enough rope to hang herself.

However, it sounds like an excellent strategy to yield back time to her to actually ANSWER a question if/when she begins to prattle on and use talking points in response to a question. I hope they've thought of it!!

[KGinSanFrancisco]

Good points. It's no surprise she'll be on the attack and Biden has to take control of the discussion and say the things that he needs to say about how Obama and him will govern. He cannot allow her to bully him.
The one thing I didn't like about Obama in the debate was that he let Mccain go off topic talking about ridiculous earmarks when this was not why we are facing this crisis. Obama should have ignored Mccain and explain the economic crisis and what he was doing to address it, stating once again that Mccain doesn't get it.
She will parrot her talking points ignoring the questions asked. that's what Biden needs to be prepared for.

[PATina]

Man... I can't wait until Thursday night.

[blaqntelligence]

I can't wait, but I'll probably end up watching the debate through my fingers. Like a horror flick.
I want to see what happens, but I can't stand blood.

[2sunny]

Thank-you, blaqntelligence, for the funny. I need a good laugh! I am so uptight about thursdays debate. GO BIDEN! RA RA RA

[Isome]

I'm pretty much the same way, I have to leave the room when "my" candidate isn't answering the way I think is appropriate, or I start talking to the television getting waaaay too agitated.

During Palin's interviews with K. Couric I was actually feeling sorry for her, and then my sister & good friend had to remind me that this woman has NO mercy when she's on the unwarranted, ill-conceived attack, so I should save my sympathy for someone more worthy of it.

*lol*