Biden-Ryan Debate: How Will Pennsylvania Native Biden Do?

The stakes are high tonight as Pennsylvania native Joe Biden meets Congressman Paul Ryan in their only debate.

When Jill Biden made a campaign stop at the Pennsylvania State Education Association office in Wescosville Monday, Patch took the opportunity to ask Obama-Biden supporters how they think Joe Biden will do, given Obama's lackluster performance last week in the first presidential debate and Biden's propensity for gaffes.

Here's what they had to say:

* Muhlenberg College student Hannah Miller:

“Both candidates have the potential to be offensive to somebody as well as to sway them.

“Both are dynamic. It should be interesting.”

* Linda Mancinelli of Allentown, whose daughter, Alissa Jebitsch, is a volunteer for the Obama campaign. Mancinelli is an official “comfort captain” for area volunteers, which means mostly that she feeds them and, in some cases, offers them a place to stay if they’re from out of the area:

“Vice President Biden is very strong.

“Ryan doesn’t know what he’s talking about. Nothing he says leads me to believe he realizes this is an election of the people.

“Obama is not finished yet.”

Who do you think will win the debate? Tell us in the comments.

* On Facebook, Lower Macungie Patch received two responses to a call for predictions on the debate. One came from a frequent commenter who identifies himself as “Boozie McLiver Damage”:

“The 'debate' will likely resemble an Saturday Night Live skit. This link of "Biden-isms" will illustrate why.

“Essentially, I think that Biden is in big trouble.

“Ryan is articulate and informed, while Biden has repeatedly made some embarrassing public gaffes ... Not the least of which was the cringe inducing 'they're gonna put y'all back in chains' remark to a largely African American audience.”

Tonight's debate has taken on new importance following the first presidential debate last week between President Obama and Republican Mitt Romney. Nearly 66 percent of all voters thought Romney performed better, resulting in a boost in the polls for him, according to the Pew Research Center.

Biden faces pressure to stem that momentum in the Romney campaign, according to an ABC News report.

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker told Patch that Ryan should expect Biden to be aggressive. "He’ll come out and repeat some of the attacks you’ve seen in the past about Paul Ryan’s budget plan," the Republican governor said. "Most of those critiques have been false.” The governor's advice to Ryan: "be yourself."

Meanwhile, those who attended the Jill Biden event at the PSEA building were confident Joe Biden, a veteran debater, would do well against Ryan.

“I am sure that Joe Biden is going to win the debate," said retired Salisbury High School art teacher Dolly Yanolko. "They talk about his gaffes, but they are not evil gaffes. There is a difference. I don’t know how Ryan is going to survive the night.”

Similarly, Emmaus Patch Facebook friend Patricia Ann Aldobrandesca Feninez also picks Biden to come out on top.

"Joe Biden will win. He has much more experience."