Clearly the WSJ isn't exactly fair & balanced. And clearly, Palin won't be coming up with a lot of factual support or citing specifics for policy change.
But do you really think the one with the best numbers/facts "wins"? Ask Kerry, Gore, or Dukakis...
For undecided voters, policy don't mean shit. That's why they're undecided, despite the vast differences in policy positions between these two.
For undecideds, it's about about personality & one-liners & who beat expectations. "Winsomeness" is Palin's bread and blubber. In the Alaska debates, former state legislator Andrew Halcro presented facts and figures to support his positions, but she dismissed him, saying he could be the state statistician.
From the WSJ: "With Andrew, she was saying, basically, 'Gee, all your facts and numbers are nice, but the voters just don't care.'"
Two years later, both men concede that they may have underestimated Gov. Palin's ease during the debates, or how disciplined she could be in staying on message."
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