Yuma GOP, Dems offer remarks on candidates

Local members of the Democratic and Republican parties expressed in general how each U.S. vice presidential candidates' performance measured up to each other on Thursday night during the anticipated debate.

Democratic Sen. Joe Biden of Delaware and Republican Gov. Sarah Palin of Alaska, met on the debate floor at Washington University in St. Louis, Mo.

Cindy Baker, a member of the Yuma County Republican Party, said that Gov. Sarah Palin's performance far exceeded her expectations and that Biden was being sarcastic during the debate.

"I think she is showing that she is well informed. I think she has been giving some very specifics answers of what the plan would be in the McCain-Palin administration. I think she is doing very well," Baker said. "I think Biden is almost sarcastic in some of the stuff he's doing, in facial expressions, which is unfortunate. I think she is being professional and to the point."

Baker felt that Biden was acting as if he was almost debating president George W. Bush and that he kept talking about the Bush Administration instead when he should place his focus on him running against McCain and Palin.

Charlene Fernandez, chairwoman of the Yuma County Democratic Party, said Palin continuously dodged the questions because she didn't do her homework. "I feel that she was talking about things that she crammed for, I hear that they planted it in her head because a lot of the time when she answers questions, she didn't really answer the question," Fernandez said. "She brought something else up, something that she studied for. Those are the issues that I had, I just thought that Joe Biden was very vice presidential."

But from a neutral opinion, professor Mohammed Bahramzadeh, an Arizona Western College political science professor, said there was no element of surprise about the vice-presidential debate and that many people may have already had preconceived notions about the debate.

"Throughout the debate she (Palin) made all general statements which appeal to middle class America... she came out as very strong. But whenever she's not comfortable and out of the comfort threshold then she kind of dodges the question...I didn't think she did that bad." Bahramzadeh said. "I don't think there was an element of surprise to begin with and the depth of knowledge that Biden has there is no comparison."

"I think on top of that I might add, these vice presidential debates have no impact on the presidential election, historically," he added.


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Stephanie Sanchez can be reached at ssanchez@yumasun.com or 539-6847.