This is going to be a short diary, but I've just had an epiphany and I think it's diary worthy. I just explained it to my husband and his response was, "Aha! Makes sense!"
First off, the strategists in Obama's campaign deserve every penny they make, they are phenominal. They have made an informed gamble and I suspect it will pay off. They are betting on the fact that Palin will fall flat on her face tonight based on all of their research combined with current events and interviews.
It's like a tennis match. She will lose on unforced errors and Biden just has to focus on playing a solid game.
To see why I have come to this clear realization, follow me below...
Earlier today, I was reading about Obama's team saying that Palin was a great debater. All the media was saying that this talk was just part of the "expectations game", but Plouffe was insistent on this. They even provided links to her Alaska debates.
So, I took the bait and I watched these debates. The Palin in the debates IS alot better than the Palin we have seen in the last few weeks. It's not so much that she knows her stuff (I still think she's a polished dunce), it's more that she is confident and comfortable and therefore she comes off as the winner and beats expectations.
So, as I watched these Alaska debates of hers, I noticed that for the most part, SHE WAS SITTING DOWN.
Why is that important? She uses her hands alot, when she is seated she is much more comfortable, therefore more confident. It also eliminates the subliminal "height" advantage. Picture the camera panning out, unless she is standing on a stool, the height difference between her and Biden will be noticable.
So, I thought to myself that comparing her previous debates to the current one was really like comparing apples and oranges. I know myself, if I have to debate or give a presentation, I do MUCH better sitting in a conversational setting than standing behind a podium. The podium presents a more "formal" setting and I think, for Sarah Palin, the podium will be her downfall. It's really hard to be folksy and cute behind a podium.
Now, to wrap up and confirm my premise that the Obama campaign is onto this standing/podium bet, I heard on the news when I got home tonight that the McCain camp asked to change the rules for tonight. They wanted to shorten the time for the follow-up questions. And, surprisingly, the Obama camp said yes! But, here's the kicker: guess what they wanted in return? Podiums instead of a sit down.
Game, set, match.
(P.S. sorry no links, I'm on dial-up right now and it takes me FOREVER to look for info. If anyone wants to list some links below, I will add them to the diary after I post.)