Top Ten Last Minute Debating Tips for Sarah Palin

Davey Winder
Friday, 03 October 2008 01:07

IT Policy - Government Tech Policy

As Sarah Palin readies herself for the make-or-break live vice-presidential debate in just a few hours from now, perhaps the Internet can offer some timely if not altogether serious debating advice...

There will be only the one televised vice-presidential head-to-head debate in the US electoral campaign, so both Joe Biden and Sarah Palin had better get it right.

Despite having many decades of experience at this level, Biden is not immune from making the odd gaffe. Indeed, some of his closest political allies admit that he often talks too much.

Most famously, and a cause of great bemusement to us Brits, when running for the Democratic presidential nomination back in 1987 he was caught plagiarising a speech from UK Labour politician Neil Kinnock without attribution.

However, only a couple of years ago Biden was still putting his best foot forward and steeping right into it with gaffes such as the video circulating of him saying "You cannot go to a 7-Eleven or a Dunkin' Donuts unless you have a slight Indian accent. I'm not joking."

That said, it is the recent pushing of Sarah Palin into the vice-presidential limelight that has caused the biggest stir. At first Palin could not put a foot wrong and following a rousing speech at the Republican party conference her ratings rocketed.

However, for reasons known only to Republican campaign strategists, Palin was then prevented from participating in many media interviews.

Those reasons became a little clearer after Palin made some high profile gaffes on the few occasions she  has been interviewed. Most notably, of course, in her rambling and confusing answers concerning foreign policy matters.

Thankfully the Internet comes to the rescue with ten great debating tips that just might help Palin win the debate tonight. Read them on page 2...

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