By Wally Kennedy

wkennedy@joplinglobe.com

Vice presidential nominees Sarah Palin and Joe Biden squared off Thursday night at Washington University in St. Louis for their first and only debate in their bids to convince voters that they represent the best choice for the nation.

Six area voters — two Republicans, two swing voters and two Democrats — were interviewed by telephone near the conclusion of the debate. The Republicans said Palin did a remarkable job of connecting to real people. The Democrats said Biden demonstrated a broad base of knowledge. One of the swing voters said he was surprised by Palin’s performance and grasp of the issues. The other said she does not think Palin is ready to be vice president.

Charlie Davis, a Webb City Republican, said: “I am very encouraged about Governor Palin. She has shown how she is a down-to-earth wife ... and Washington outsider. She will bring change that is good for the people.

“She went into the debate not knowing what the questions would be. She was well-informed about the economy, the wars and same-sex marriage. I was surprised they did not talk about how they stand on gun control and the right to keep and bear arms, which is an important issue in this area.

“She’s a middle-class woman like I am a middle-class man. I can relate to her more than a Washington insider.”

Davis said Palin emphasized her experience and her way of life.

“She runs a business,” he said. “She’s been a mayor. She goes on snow machines and walks with her husband. She is concerned about the middle class because she is the middle class. She is not an elitist like Senator Biden. She knows what a gallon of gas costs and what the electrical bill for a house costs.”

Alice Olsen, a Joplin Republican, said: “She was absolutely wonderful. She was phenomenal. She was her relaxed self. She presented herself and her beliefs. She can relate to us. I really liked the fact she wants to clean up Washington. She has the ethics and she has the morals to clean up the sewage that goes on in Washington. She is a force to be reckoned with. I trust her.”

Olsen said Sen. Barack Obama, the Democratic nominee for president, needs Biden at his side.

“Obama is not qualified to be president without Biden,” she said. “He couldn’t do it without Biden. She (Palin) could be president if she had to.”

Olsen said Palin “came out like a bear. She knows herself, and she’s going to do it. There’s no hem-hawing about her. They (Sen. John McCain, the Republican nominee for president, and Palin) are not like Bush.”

Paul Davis, a Webb City undecided voter, said: “I’m surprised by both of them sticking to the topics pretty well and generally answering the questions. I was more surprised about Palin. She was not hesitating or stammering around.

“I thought she was aggressive in drawing distinctions. There were more areas of agreement than I thought there would be. I think she did a good job of bringing out things and did not take a lot of credit on herself. She defended the McCain position. Her emphasis on her executive position in Alaska might be a plus for her.

“I am still making up my mind, but Palin did a surprisingly good job. She must have a mind like a trap. She has been studying.”

Donna Bray, an undecided voter from Webb City, is now closer to making up her mind about how she will vote on Nov. 4. She said she watched last week’s debate between McCain and Obama, and found it to be boring.

“I am not bored this time around,” she said. “You know, I think Palin failed miserably in this debate. I don’t think the woman is cut out to be vice president. Her lack of knowledge and refusing to answer the questions that were asked of her really bothered me. I found that annoying.

“I don’t think she’s got what it takes to be vice president, and I would love to see a woman as vice president. I really think he (Biden) is on the ball. I had never heard him speak before, and I have a good feeling about him. I really do.

“I saw no sexism. He was not condescending. He was pretty tolerant of her, though she was rude to him a couple of times.”

Erik Wright, a Joplin Democrat, said: “It was a very good debate, as we expected. I can say from my point of view, I have a whole lot of confidence in Joe Biden, and the way he brought out the facts and the points that needed to be made.

“It was as if she was reading her stump speech at a debate. She seemed uncomfortable at times. For the first few minutes, she appeared very awkward. I think she’s out of her league, right now.

“Biden was strong when he jumped back at her with the facts. She was focused almost entirely on Obama and Senator Biden with snide, underhanded comments that were not based in fact.”

Kim Boman, a Joplin Democrat, said: “I felt that Biden was doing a great job. He was strong and informative.

“Palin, on the other hand, was, well, the best way I could put it and bluntly: She has disgraced women everywhere. When she refuted Biden’s points or stances, it was very indirect. She talked about her experience in Alaska, but dealing with things there compared to Washington is on a whole different level.

“She did not exude confidence. We need strong leaders for our nation who know what they are doing. She doesn’t know. Even in this debate, she said she didn’t know. I found Sarah Palin’s body language, the rolling of her eyes and winking, to be distracting.

“What we need are professionals who can represent our government. She tried to relate to normal, everyday people. That’s great, but we need much more than that.”