Presidential Campaign

It will be the greatest show on earth, and just might win the state of Ohio and a second term for President Obama. On Thursday the staggeringly popular former president, who is known as the Comeback Kid, will appear in Ohio to talk about the great American economic comeback, alongside Bruce Springsteen, the iconic voice of “Born in the USA,” who can talk about the great surge of Made in the USA jobs that have come back because President Obama saved the American auto industry that did so much for Michigan, Ohio, Wisconsin and many other states.

The Clinton-Springsteen ticket, in support of the Obama-Biden ticket, will live one of those magic moments that make American politics, at its best, so great. If you live within a thousand miles of Ohio, don't miss it, and if you live in Ohio, I am jealous that this moment will be at a place near you!

Judging by the campaign appearances of Republican nominee Mitt Romney and his running mate Paul Ryan in recent days, I would expect Romney’s debate strategy tomorrow will be to develop two main themes.

On the domestic front: We’ve heard about hope and change, but it didn’t dig the country out of the economic mire. Are Americans better off than four years ago? No, so give an experienced businessman a chance.

We are seeing a new generation of American blacks who are better-educated, more successful, more pro-business and, therefore, drawn to policy positions vastly different from those of their parents and grandparents.

And yet the stereotype remains that blacks are incapable of seeing beyond the decades-old cultural mandate that says vote Democrat or if you support GOP candidate Mitt Romney (as in the case of Stacey Dash) you are a sellout or traitor to your race.

In the vice presidential debate Joe Biden was the only candidate who was presidential and commanding while Paul Ryan was the only candidate who joined Republicans supporting deep cuts to State Department security while trying to exploit the death of Americans in Libya for political gain, as Biden correctly stated while Ryan sheepishly smiled. Joe Biden lifted the Democratic base out of their chairs and did the president and his party a major service. Have you noticed that here on this page, two Republicans both used the word "jerk"? Methinks they protest too much, from the same talking points of Karl Rove-style insults that persuade no voters.

The vice presidential debates are usually meaningless.

The one last night was more meaningless than most meaningless vice presidential debates.

The most famous debate put-down in history came when Lloyd Bentsen tore into Dan Quayle, who, let’s face it, was no Jack Kennedy.

Quayle looked like a fool, but his playing partner still won the election.

Regardless of who you think won last night's debate on issues, there was a clear winner in style. Paul Ryan was clearly respectful and polite, while Vice President Biden was snug and obnoxious.  While Biden had Ryan on the defensive for most of the the debate, his consistent interruptions and rude behavior was not presidential. 

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While Democrats are relieved that Joe Biden did not top himself on his embarrassing gaffes, for which he has become well-known, he did not, in fact, "win" last night's vice-presidential debate. Expectations were so low for him that anything short of a caricature of his own hapless self would have been received by the party faithful and their friends in the media with applause.
 
Biden was over the top with his 82 interruptions (aided and abetted by moderator Martha Raddatz) and the rude yet odd facial expressions. But what I found the most interesting was Paul Ryan's demeanor.

My scorecard for debate No. 2 is:
Ryan C
Biden B
Raddatz A

In substance, Congressman Ryan did the traditional job of being a modest surrogate for his master. He was polite and competent, if wonky, about economic data, and weak and shallow on foreign policy. On style, he looked callow and his funny hair peak and surly look made him appear young and out of his weight class, as if his feet wouldn’t reach the floor in the Oval Office, as one commentator remarked.

If I were President Obama’s campaign manager, Jim Messina, I wouldn’t be mass emailing today asking for “$5 or more” and urging vigilance during tonight’s VP debate about whether “Congressman Ryan tells the truth — about himself, his record, or his and Mitt Romney’s actual plans for where they’d take our country.”

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You would be foolish to count Biden out of tonight's VP debate: He has 30 years of experience in the Senate — the most talkative group of people in history — and has run for president a zillion times. Biden handily beat Obama and Clinton in the earlier primary debates, back in 2008, and has taken six whole days to prepare to face Ryan.