Roseville Reacts to Substance, Style of Vice Presidential Debate

Who won Thursday night's Vice Presidential debate between incumbent Joe Biden and challenger Paul Ryan seemed to hinge on if you were a Republican or Democrat.

In Roseville, fourth-generation Republican Kent Kaiser called the debate on substantive issues virtually a draw. But Kaiser, an assistant communications professor at Northwestern College, gave the edge on style to Ryan, saying "he  seemed more Presidential." (See an earlier opinion piece by Kaiser that appeared on Roseville Patch.).

Kaiser explained he was bothered by Biden's frequent chuckling, laughing and smiling while Ryan was speaking. "That could be considered disrespectful," he said.,

Judy Berglund, a Roseville Democrat, agreed that Biden's weakness may have been his demeanor. "The laughs, the interruptions  might have offputting to some," admitted Berglund, a writer and retired staffer from Education Minnesota, the state's largest teachers' union.  "But others thought that was just right -- keeping Ryan on the defensive."

However, Berglund contended, "Biden was clearly the winner for people who have been following the campaign closely and are well-informed.  He accurately challenged Ryan's math on the Romney eonomic package. He effectively challenged Ryan's agressive approach on Iran and Afghanistan. He accurately challenged Ryan's unfounded charges  about Medicare, Social Security and Obamacare. 

"I thought his (Biden's) conclusion was sincere and very strong," Berglund said

But she also concluded, " Ryan did appear to be well informed and confident. The  undecided voter would probably call the debate a draw.  Ryan's weakness: broad proposals with no specifics."