Whenever the stakes are high – the speech in which a candidate accepts his or her party’s nomination at the convention, a must-win primary, quarterly fund-raising targets – presidential campaigns like to manage expectations downward so that the low expectations can be easily exceeded. Doing better than “expected” makes you a winner, doing worse makes you a loser.

But after getting tripped up by ABC’s Charlie Gibson and CBS’s Katie Couric in a series of interviews over the past couple of weeks, GOP vice presidential nominee Gov. Sarah Palin’s reputation had nowhere to go but up as she was prepping for her debate with her Dem rival Sen. Joe Biden, so the McCain campaign was forced to talk her up – during her political rise, her vivid personality was more important to voters than having statistical arcana at the tip of her tongue and was a formidable foe in debates - and promised she would come out swinging.     

It was a risky strategy because all eyes were on her, and she had to perform well against an old Washington hand. And she lived up to her billing – and then some! She looked into the camera and spoke directly to the American people, refused to get lost in the thickets of specificity when it got in the way of communicating a larger point, was animated and passionate, and remained personable – even when on the attack. And she didn’t let Biden get away with any misstatements of McCain’s record or fudging of Obama’s positions.

The Stiletto’s favorite exchanges in the debate:

† In response to moderator Gwen Ifill’s question on whether the tug-of-war over the Wall Street bailout bill between Dems and Repubs represents “the worst of Washington or the best of Washington” Biden responded with a rote attack on “the economic policies of the last eight years” whereas Palin commiserated with average Americans with their life savings in a 401K on how the Wall Street meltdown affects them:

You know, I think a good barometer here, as we try to figure out has this been a good time or a bad time in America's economy, is go to a kid's soccer game on Saturday, and turn to any parent there on the sideline and ask them, "How are you feeling about the economy?" And I'll bet you, you're going to hear some fear in that parent's voice, fear regarding the few investments that some of us have in the stock market. Did we just take a major hit with those investments? Fear about, how are we going to afford to send our kids to college? A fear, as small-business owners, perhaps, how we're going to borrow any money to increase inventory or hire more people.

† And when Ifill asked whether predatory lending was to blame for the subprime mortgage mess, Biden again answered with boilerplate tying McCain to the “true Republican response, deregulate, deregulate” (though he did take a stab at aping Palin’s folksiness with reference to a guy named Joey in his hometown who can’t afford to top the gas tank of his car). Palin again put herself in the shoes of the people whose votes she wants – and gave them a gentle scolding about living large, to boot:

Darn right it was the predator lenders, who tried to talk Americans into thinking that it was smart to buy a $300,000 house if we could only afford a $100,000 house. There was deception there, and there was greed and there is corruption on Wall Street. And we need to stop that. Again, John McCain and I, that commitment that we have made, and we're going to follow through on that, getting rid of that corruption.

One thing that Americans do at this time, also, though, is let's commit ourselves just every day American people, Joe Six Pack, hockey moms across the nation, I think we need to band together and say never again. Never will we be exploited and taken advantage of again by those who are managing our money and loaning us these dollars. …

Let's do what our parents told us before we probably even got that first credit card. Don't live outside of our means. We need to make sure that as individuals we're taking personal responsibility through all of this. It's not the American peoples fault that the economy is hurting like it is, but we have an opportunity to learn a heck of a lot of good lessons through this and say never again will we be taken advantage of.

† In response to Ifill’s question about differences the two vice presidential candidates differ with their principals and what they would do should they ever assume the office under tragic circumstances. For his part, Biden said he’d continue to carry out Obama’s policies because “I agree with every major initiative he is suggesting.” Allowing that she and McCain are of one mind when it comes to government reform, Palin deftly explained the areas of disagreement between them:

As for disagreeing with John McCain and how our administration would work, what do you expect? A team of mavericks, of course we're not going to agree on 100 percent of everything. As we discuss ANWR there, at least we can agree to disagree on that one. I will keep pushing him on ANWR. I have so appreciated he has never asked me to check my opinions at the door and he wants a deliberative debate and healthy debate so we can make good policy.

Isn’t it interesting that Biden, who is far more experienced than his running mate, feels the need to defer to him in all matters whereas Palin has the spunk to challenge her running mate?

† When asked how each of them defined their responsibilities and spheres of influence as vice president, Palin first treated the question like one of those MSM pop quizzes she’s been subjected to over the past few weeks (“to preside over the Senate”), but then described the portfolio she and McCain agreed upon:

[E]nergy independence in America and reform of government over all, and then working with families of children with special needs. That's near and dear to my heart also. In those arenas, John McCain has already tapped me and said, that's where I want you, I want you to lead.

Biden seemed to indicate that he will be Obama’s Dick Cheney – but then took issue with Cheney’s unprecedented reach and power when Ifill asked Palin a follow-up question about whether the she agrees with Cheney that “the Executive Branch does not hold complete sway over the office of the vice presidency, that it is also a member of the Legislative Branch” (she agrees with the separation of powers, and correctly said that this view is supported by the Constitution, which says the vice president of the Executive Branch is also the President of the Senate, which is part of the Legislative Branch):

I would be the point person for the legislative initiatives in the United States Congress for our administration. … [W]hen asked if I wanted a portfolio, my response was, no. But Barack Obama indicated to me he wanted me with him to help him govern. So every major decision he'll be making, I'll be sitting in the room to give my best advice. He's president, not me, I'll give my best advice. …

Vice President Cheney has been the most dangerous vice president we've had probably in American history. The idea he doesn't realize that Article I of the Constitution defines the role of the vice president of the United States, that's the Executive Branch. He works in the Executive Branch. He should understand that. Everyone should understand that. …

The only authority the vice president has from the legislative standpoint is the vote, only when there is a tie vote. He has no authority relative to the Congress. The idea he's part of the Legislative Branch is a bizarre notion invented by Cheney to aggrandize the power of a unitary executive and look where it has gotten us. It has been very dangerous.

So while all the pundits say that neither Biden nor Palin made a gaffe, The Stiletto has to respectfully disagree, based on Biden’s answer to what he thinks the vice president does all day.

† And best one of all: That zinger Palin gave to Charlie Gibson and Katie Couric at the end: “I like being able to answer these tough questions without the filter, even, of the mainstream media kind of telling viewers what they've just heard. I'd rather be able to just speak to the American people like we just did.”

But Palin’s performance is in the eye of the beholder. Want proof? You need only read The Boston Globe’s own columnists and critics, who squabbled amongst themselves over whether she acquitted herself well or should be convicted of political malpractice:    

† Ellen Goodman: Sarah was Positively Sarah, as they used to say when she ran for mayor. Folksy, breezy, back on her mojo, full of anecdotes and on message. If this is what cramming looks like, she'd pulled the all-nighters and learned what Hamas was and to keep her syntax (mostly) in order. If every question didn't lead to an answer it led to an anecdote. … Tina Fey still looks more qualified.

† Jeff Jacoby: Sarah Palin was incredible! She turned in a performance that would have done any vice presidential nominee proud - and she did it after less than six weeks in national life, and having never before debated in front of a national audience. She was strong, well-spoken, intelligent, an obvious quick study, and not in the least intimidated by her opponent's decades of experience. … Palin did herself and her ticket proud last night. Can McCain handle himself with equal aplomb in his remaining two debates? His running mate has just raised the bar.

† Scot Lehigh: You can say this about Sarah Palin: She did better debating Joe Biden than she did being interviewed by Katie Couric. But that sets the bar very low indeed. … Palin's performance may stanch the buyer's remorse that has clearly replaced the early excitement about her candidacy. But last night, there was only one person who displayed the knowledge and mastery the job requires, and that was Biden.

† Joanna Weiss: [I]n an evening nearly free of gaffes … the biggest surprise was how much information Joe Biden and Sarah Palin managed to pack into an hour and a half. This debate was swimming in details - almost drowning in them at times, given how many related to specific bills, votes, and campaign comments, all seemingly culled from lists of partisan talking points. But the night also touched, at breakneck speed, on subjects like gay rights and theories of diplomacy. It even produced some genuine moments of agreement. … [T]hroughout it all, Palin was the one who smiled most broadly. Even the flag pin on her lapel had sparkles.

The Stiletto is glad Weiss brought up the subject of smiles. Many have commented on Biden’s hair plugs, but did you notice that he must have something like 75 teeth in his mouth, all of them capped? Every time he smiled, which was often, his mouth seemed to stretch from one end of the debate set to the other (6:35 into this video snippet).

While he was trained not to be overtly sexist, Biden repeatedly smiled when Palin was speaking, as though tickled pink by the antics of an adorable child (for instance, 5:09 to 5:17 into this video snippet; 2:32 to 2:25 into this video snippet; 2:24 to 2:29 into this video snippet; and 2:13 to 2:16 into this video snippet).

Eventually, Palin got under his skin and he stopped smiling (4:12 to into this video snippet) – and yes, he did sigh audibly during one of her foreign policy answers (4:02 into this video snippet).

A few minor quibbles: Palin needs to be coached in the proper pronunciation of “nuclear,”  “Iraq” and “Iran” – the mispronunciation of these three words, in particular, are among The Stiletto’s pet peeves (second item). And someone needs to point out that Palin says the word “also” as many as three times in a single sentence – the way other people may say “uh” or “like.” Oh wait – The Stiletto just did! Anyway, “um” is relatively unobtrusive, whereas repeated “alsos” can become as grating as a staccato of “likes.” 

Other than that, it was a thrilling and electrifying performance. Just compare the two candidates’ closing statements (video):

Palin:  We have to fight for our freedoms, also, economic and our national security freedoms. It was Ronald Reagan who said that freedom is always just one generation away from extinction. We don't pass it to our children in the bloodstream; we have to fight for it and protect it, and then hand it to them so that they shall do the same, or we're going to find ourselves spending our sunset years telling our children and our children's children about a time in America, back in the day, when men and women were free. We will fight for it, and there is only one man in this race who has really ever fought for you, and that's Senator John McCain. 

Biden: You know, in the neighborhood I grew up in, it was all about dignity and respect. A neighborhood like most of you grew up in. And in that neighborhood, it was filled with women and men, mothers and fathers who taught their children if they believed in themselves, if they were honest, if they worked hard, if they loved their country, they could accomplish anything. We believed it, and we did. That's why Barack Obama and I are running, to re-establish that certitude in our neighborhoods. Ladies and gentlemen, my dad used to have an expression. He'd say, "champ, when you get knocked down, get up." Well, it's time for America to get up together. America's ready, you're ready, I'm ready, and Barack Obama is ready to be the next president of the United States of America.

Palin’s evocation of Ronald Reagan’s stirring address on how the socialized medicine mandate will expand until all of our freedoms have been encroached upon (at the very end, 9:35 into this audio clip) underscored the McCain-Palin motto “Country First.” Ending on the assertion Barack Obama is ready to be the next president of the United States of America – as Bill Clinton did at the Dem convention – only made The Stiletto wonder why at this late date, the point still needs to be made.

Editorial Note: Goodman was hardly the only Great Wit to stoop to that predictable Tina Fey comparison. So did her colleague Joan Vennochi (“Diplomacy is hard work by serious people. Tina Fey couldn't have said it better and just might on an upcoming ‘Saturday Night Live’”), as did Washington Posts TV critic Tom Shales (“Sarah Palin looked as though she had prepared for her appearance at the vice presidential debate last night by studying Tina Fey's impressions of her …”), along with countless others.