The Debate: Liveblogging I

09:30: Palin: "We know that it's real, but I'm not one to attribute every activity of man to changes on our planet...I don't wanna argue about the causes...how are we going to get there to positively effect the impacts..." 

09:29: Palin, again avoiding the question, decides to bring up drilling. Good for her, but the context is weird, and she's not explaining herself very well.

09:25: Palin's word salad strikes on economic problems....but Biden seems to have taken a jab at his own running mate on the bankruptcy bill, noting that Biden voted along with 85 other senators and Obama opposed it with 15 senators...

09:24: Ifill asks Palin if there's anything the McCain-Palin ticket won't be able to keep its promises...Palin says she's only been going at this for five weeks and therefore hasn't promised much....then adds a sentence about the bailout....Biden says he agrees with Palin and wants to impose a windfall profits tax in Alaska like Palin did....

09:22: Palin again ignores question and pivots to an Obama plan...his voting for the energy plan in '05...Palin... took on oil companies in Alaska... a little shaky on her answer here. Not necessarily the best exchange....

09:21: McCain campaign happy: Biden's defending tax hikes.

09:20: E-mail bottleneck: I just got 5 fact-check e-mails from the Obama campaign...can't look at 'em all when they arrive at once.

09:19: Biden's argument against McCain's health care plan is strong....well made... and Palin doesn't get to respond.

09:18:  Palin's doing well enough AND she's not answering Ifill's questions at all. She ignores them...which gives Biden a chance to define McCain's proposals, but it also allows Palin to deflect some of the heat.

09:15: Taxes: Biden: Obama's tax hike "is called fairness. The middle class is struggling. The middle class under John McCain's tax proposals...one hundred million families 'll get a single break in taxes."  Palin: Obama's tax increase hits small businesses too.... pivots to Biden's comments about paying taxes "is patriotic."  Says that she's in the middle class and has been there "all her life." (Really? She's rich.) 

09:13:  Who said Biden wouldn't be aggressive?  Challenges Palin to explain McCain's deregulation comments... Palin refuses to answer......says instead..."I may not answer the question that you or the moderator want to hear.."

09:11: The visuals are important... Biden seems very busy in his half of the screen...smiling, grimacing.....Now -- Biden distorts what McCain wants to do with the health care system and Palin distorts Obama's budget vote... so that's one for one. 

09:10: Palin seems very well prepared. ... While Biden speaks, she glances at the camera.

09:08: Palin refers to "Joe six-pack" -- "never again will be exploited and taken advantage again of those who are managing our money..."  

09:07: Palin defends McCain on "fundamentals", "taking to and talking about the American workplace...that's positive and that's encouragement and that's what McCain meant."  Claims she's known for bipartisan politics and Obama's known for voting for his party line.

09:06: Biden touts his bipartisan credentials but fifteen seconds later, turns back to McCain and "fundamentals are strong comment."

09:04: Palin starts with "Average Joe" answer; soccer mom; soccer game; she connects with you. Less wonky than Joe Biden. "Barometer there is going to be resounding that the economy is hurting and the federal government hasn't provided the oversight.."   Pivots to McCain's "bipartisan effort."

09:03: Biden deflects question about whether Bailout Week has been best or worst of Washington and immediately launches into a speech against the Bush administration. Pivots to Obama's "rescue" plan principles. Sets "fundamental disagreement" as "changing the focus of economic policy.

09:02: mic picks up Palin asking: "Hey, can I call you Joe?"