If it's like most campaign debates, it will all have been so carefully choreographed ahead of time by the professional handlers on both sides that you will barely be able to slip a sheet of paper between whatever advantage either speaker comes away with, although...

Those who like Biden will of course hear what they want to hear and think he won...and those who like Palin will of course hear what they want to hear and think he won.

That's how the partisan mind works. It filters reality through a telescope that only works according to its own script and is blind to all else.

But, you never know...something unexpected may still happen. Someone may screw up royally when Biden and Palin meet. That's what both sides always pray for, isn't it? And they pray that it will favor them when it happens. ;-)

Why, oh why, for instance could McCain not have gone into a foaming frenzy, beat his fists insanely on the podium, and then had a stroke right there on the stage? And why could Obama not have stumbled in confusion, lost the thread of his arguent entirely, and then burst into tears and rushed off the stage?

(sigh) Two more sets of eager partisan hopes were dashed on Friday.