Biden, Palin Spar on Taxes, Economy, Iraq in Vice Presidential Debate

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• JIM LEHRER:

  OK, first, let's get some reactions here now, first reactions from syndicated columnist Mark Shields, New York Times columnist David Brooks.

  Your first reaction?

• DAVID BROOKS, Columnist, New York Times:

  I'm sort of amazed, to be honest. It was a very spirited, very energetic, almost relentlessly energetic, fast-paced debate.

  And to be honest, I knew Joe Biden was capable of it. I wasn't sure of Sarah Palin. I thought she was every bit his equal.

  I thought she was fluid, confident. She struck her theme, just the regular, old mom.

  But she handled the foreign policy issues. She did fine with Iraq. She did fine with Iran. She certainly hit energy often enough.

  I suspect Republicans are going to be quite pleased, not that she won the debate, but she held her own with Joe Biden.

• JIM LEHRER:

  Mark?

• MARK SHIELDS, Syndicated Columnist:

  Republicans are breathing a lot easier right now. Democrats are disappointed that she didn't implode. This was a far cry from the Katie Couric performance, where I think she was embarrassed and embarrassing.

  We saw something quite unlike anything we've ever seen before in American presidential, vice presidential debates. She was relentlessly colloquial and informal in her speech, in all her metaphors. And, you know, candidates do that. They talk about their roots. And Joe Biden talked quite compellingly about being a single parent.

  But I thought, you know, the "I bet you," the "doggone its," it was something we've never heard before. And, you know, the question is, does it appeal?

  I agree with David. There were no — there were no major missteps. There were exaggerations or hyperbole on both sides. But I think Governor Palin was probably more conspicuous for that.

  But still, I think that she came through it far, far better than those around her expected going in.