I think the fix was on. The McCain campaign had already painted Gwen Ifill as in the tank for Obama and she caved in to pressure to go easy on her. The questions were like softballs, easy to dodge with no follow up and no insistence that she answer them.
Palin came across as a "Stepford candidate" who was programmed to say a series of talking point. On the other hand Biden was articulate, spontaneous, and very real and that’s what the audience saw.
I thought she was very condescending, and had no vision of McCain/Palin ticket would be different than the last 8 years. She must have said "Maverick" at least eight times referring to herself and John McCain. She used the words of Ronald Reagan a lot and yet she spoke and acted like GW. (I.e. saying "nucular" and being folksy and trying to be likeable).
She did not come across as a statesman, Biden did. She came across as out of her league.
As a white woman, I didn't see any compelling reasons to vote for her. She didn't make me like her. I already knew she was a phony. and this debate din't change my mind.
She just wasn’t credible. I don't think she changed anybody's mind. She was fake and scripted. And what was up with all the winking?