It was a lively affair at Centre College in Danville, Kentucky, as Vice President Joe Biden and Rep. Paul Ryan tangled in their only debate of the 2012 elections. Like last week, both sides proclaimed victory, but this time, both might be right in the eyes of their base.
"It looked like the principal debating the class president," said Obama chief strategist David Axelrod.
"There are two very clear choices here," said GOP strategist Ed Gillespie, who argued that the Vice President seemed "frustrated at times."
Republicans made a lot of Biden's frequent interruptions, chuckles and outright laughter during Ryan's answers at times.
Democrats argued Biden was trying to show that Ryan wasn't leveling with the voters, as Obama backers said Ryan was smirking while Biden was talking; meanwhile Republicans - and some in the news media - said Biden's behavior came off as condescending.
Republicans quickly touted a CNBC poll that showed Ryan won; Democrats tweeted out a CBS poll that showed Biden won. A CNN snap poll gave a slight edge to Ryan.
In other words, maybe this debate didn't change anything, unlike the first Obama-Romney debate last week in Denver.
One important bottom line is that there were no gaffes, no major mistakes, no big zingers and no make-or-break moments. Yes, both sides will take certain statements and say they weren't true, but that's standard operating procedure at this point in a campaign.
This may have been one of those debate "muddles" that we have discussed in recent weeks, but we'll see what the polls show in coming days.
Give me your opinion below!
The next Obama-Romney debate is Tuesday October 16.
