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| Version 6 | Version 7 |
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| Biden and Palin meet in TV debate | Biden and Palin meet in TV debate |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| The two US vice-presidential candidates have begun their much-anticipated first and only TV debate by trading blows on the economic crisis and taxes. | |
| Democrat Joe Biden said the crisis was evidence the policies of the past eight years were "the worst we've ever had". | |
| Republican Sarah Palin argued that her party's presidential candidate John McCain had been a voice for reform. | Republican Sarah Palin argued that her party's presidential candidate John McCain had been a voice for reform. |
| The debate is seen as particularly key for Mrs Palin, whose poll ratings have fallen amid concern about her record. | The debate is seen as particularly key for Mrs Palin, whose poll ratings have fallen amid concern about her record. |
| But Senator Biden could also be vulnerable if he makes a gaffe during the 90-minute debate at Washington University in St Louis, Missouri, which is being moderated by PBS journalist Gwen Ifill. | |
| Practised lines | |
| Asked who was at fault for the current problems with the US banking system, Mrs Palin blamed predatory lenders and "greed and corruption" on Wall Street. | |
| She also urged Americans to exercise personal responsibility and not take on debt they could not afford. We expect that she'll have very witty, biting lines that she'll get off tonight David PlouffeObama campaign manager class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?forumID=5445&edition=2&ttl=20081003000007">Send us your comments | |
| She accused Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama of seeking to raise taxes but Mr Biden rebutted that point. | |
| Challenged by Mr Biden on whether she had answered the question of what she would do on the economy, Mrs Palin defended herself, saying she would respond in her own way and give "straight" answers. | |
| Mrs Palin has spent the week at Republican presidential candidate John McCain's ranch in Arizona preparing for the debate. | |
| Meanwhile, Mr Obama's running mate has been practising his lines with Democratic Governor Jennifer Granholm of Michigan. | |
| Own words | |
| Democratic advisers have reportedly been worried that Mr Biden will adopt too harsh a tone in his debate with Mrs Palin, thus alienating a key group of women voters. Gaffe-prone candidatesPalin's Alaska debating styleDebate may be turning point | |
| Commentators also warn that he will need to avoid a tendency to be too talkative and make gaffes. | Commentators also warn that he will need to avoid a tendency to be too talkative and make gaffes. |
| The McCain campaign posted a video on its website on Thursday highlighting some of his past mistakes. | The McCain campaign posted a video on its website on Thursday highlighting some of his past mistakes. |
| Meanwhile, Obama campaign manager David Plouffe sought to raise expectations for Mrs Palin, describing her as "an extremely good debater". | Meanwhile, Obama campaign manager David Plouffe sought to raise expectations for Mrs Palin, describing her as "an extremely good debater". |
| "We expect that she'll have very witty, biting lines that she'll get off tonight," he said. | "We expect that she'll have very witty, biting lines that she'll get off tonight," he said. |
| Republican advisers urged Mrs Palin to present party policies in her own words, after concern that she appeared wooden in answering questions from CBS News anchor Katie Couric last week. | |
| Mrs Palin's record in Alaska, however, suggests that she has succeeded in winning debates against more experienced opponents with her disarming style. | Mrs Palin's record in Alaska, however, suggests that she has succeeded in winning debates against more experienced opponents with her disarming style. |
| Scepticism | Scepticism |
| A new poll by the Washington Post suggests that 60% of voters now see Mrs Palin as lacking the experience to be an effective president. | A new poll by the Washington Post suggests that 60% of voters now see Mrs Palin as lacking the experience to be an effective president. |
| One-third say they are less likely to vote for the Senator McCain, as a result. | |
| Independent voters, who are not affiliated to either political party, have the most sceptical views of the 44-year-old Alaska governor. | Independent voters, who are not affiliated to either political party, have the most sceptical views of the 44-year-old Alaska governor. |
| And another poll, for CBS News, gives Senator Barack Obama 49% to 40% for Mr McCain. | And another poll, for CBS News, gives Senator Barack Obama 49% to 40% for Mr McCain. |
| It is the latest in a series of opinion polls that have shown a significant shift in the direction of Mr Obama, the Democratic presidential candidate, since the economic crisis began. | It is the latest in a series of opinion polls that have shown a significant shift in the direction of Mr Obama, the Democratic presidential candidate, since the economic crisis began. |
| Mrs Palin, whose fiery speech at last month's Republican convention inspired Christian conservatives, produces unusually strong feelings - both positive and negative - among voters. | Mrs Palin, whose fiery speech at last month's Republican convention inspired Christian conservatives, produces unusually strong feelings - both positive and negative - among voters. |
| While 29% of the electorate have a "strongly favourable" view of her, an equal number have intensely negative views, according to the Washington Post poll. | While 29% of the electorate have a "strongly favourable" view of her, an equal number have intensely negative views, according to the Washington Post poll. |
| Overall, 51% rate her favourably, compared with 57% for Joe Biden, a six-term senator for Delaware. | Overall, 51% rate her favourably, compared with 57% for Joe Biden, a six-term senator for Delaware. |
| Closely watched | Closely watched |
| With interest in the presidential election at a record high, the debate is expected to be watched intensely. According to a Pew Research Center poll, two-thirds of voters will be following the debate, far more than in 2004. | With interest in the presidential election at a record high, the debate is expected to be watched intensely. According to a Pew Research Center poll, two-thirds of voters will be following the debate, far more than in 2004. |
| Wal-Mart shoppers are a key target group of voters | Wal-Mart shoppers are a key target group of voters |
| Although Mrs Palin has succeeded in mobilising conservative Republicans, her key challenge is to appeal to the swing voters who could determine who will win the battleground states, analysts say. | Although Mrs Palin has succeeded in mobilising conservative Republicans, her key challenge is to appeal to the swing voters who could determine who will win the battleground states, analysts say. |
| In particular, she needs to win over the "Wal-Mart moms" - white, working-class married women. | In particular, she needs to win over the "Wal-Mart moms" - white, working-class married women. |
| A recent poll of customers of discount giant Wal-Mart suggested that Mr McCain was slightly ahead with this group in Ohio and Florida, while Mr Obama was leading in Virginia and Colorado. | A recent poll of customers of discount giant Wal-Mart suggested that Mr McCain was slightly ahead with this group in Ohio and Florida, while Mr Obama was leading in Virginia and Colorado. |
| Meanwhile, the McCain campaign is scaling back its operations in another swing state, Michigan, effectively conceding the advantage to Mr Obama there, the Associated Press reports. | Meanwhile, the McCain campaign is scaling back its operations in another swing state, Michigan, effectively conceding the advantage to Mr Obama there, the Associated Press reports. |
| The BBC will be streaming the Biden-Palin debate live on its website from 0100 GMT, with live running commentary and further analysis from our correspondents in St Louis and Washington. | The BBC will be streaming the Biden-Palin debate live on its website from 0100 GMT, with live running commentary and further analysis from our correspondents in St Louis and Washington. |