Today on the Dish, Andrew live-blogged the VP debate, calling it "a solid win for Biden," a "competent performance by Ryan" and naming Raddatz "the star." And after the blogosphere responded and tweeters weighed in, Andrew celebrated with the usual: memes and jagershots.
In the run-up to the debate, Andrew sketched out why this veep debate mattered and noted the race's neck-and-neck-ness. The candidates' prepping regimens differed in a few ways, and though independents expected a stronger Ryan performance, Weigel put his money on a Biden breakout. Ezra Klein then gave the inside scoop on Ryan's debating tactics, and while bloggers debated the influence of veep debates, Waldman located Ryan's weaknesses. Plus, a girl-group satirized Ryan-swooning.
In other election news, Andrew pushed back on Suderman's debunking of the Obama narrative, Obama brushed his shoulders off and Chait analyzed the withering of GOP moderates. John Sides charted ideological perceptions and black people loved Mitt. Nate Cohn then explained Obama's swing-state advantage, the ad war heated up in down-ticket races and the two Kleins lamented Obama's under-promising.
Meanwhile, Cass Sunstein warned of lower-court appointments in a Romney presidency, marriage equality in swing states gained ground, and as Richard Just thought Obama spoke in long-form, Shafer contemplated political dishonesty. Surowiecki then feared a fiscal-cliff fall, Joe Weisenthal called attention to the danger of payroll tax expiration and Jesse Ellison told a heartbreaking story of gay soldiers under DADT. On a lighter note, a video roundup of Romney's debate lies here.
Looking globally, Michael Koplow dismissed the Syria-Turkey war worry, Clive Crook examined Chavez's illiberal democracy and Alex Ross chided Israel's unofficial Wagner ban. In assorted commentary, readers urged Andrew to consider Brooklyn (hint: more beards!), Nala the albino kangaroo jumped around, while Rob Spillman and Alyssa argued over Lena Dunham's $3.7 million advance. Copyranter then praised an anti-littering ad, John Seabrook hailed the rise of K-Pop and Christopher Ryan revealed the quirkiest sex culture. And though airfare got cheaper, in-flight wifi prices soared. VFYW here and note that Andrew returns to Chris Matthews on Sunday!
– G.G.
(Photo: Moderator Martha Raddatz and Vice President Joe Biden speak during the vice presidential debate at Centre College on October 11, 2012 in Danville, Kentucky. By Michael Reynolds-Pool/Getty Images)
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