Both campaigns have been in touch asking for advice about tomorrow's VP debate. I'm going to share the notes I've sent them with you, starting with the one I sent Governor Palin:
To: Governor Sarah Palin
From: Marbury
- Thursday night is the second stage in your coming-out for the great American public. It should have the same impact as your speech at the convention. Although things haven't all gone smoothly in the past ten days, overall you've proven your ability to connect with people around the country. So, be yourself, and do it again at the debate.
- Just as you did in that great speech, take the opportunity to refer to some of the negative chatter surrounding you, and turn it to your advantage. "You know, the media have been playing a game of gotcha in recent days, because they don't like outsiders..."
- Biden knows more than you. No point disputing that. Instead, refer to his extensive knowledge and experience and contrast it with your good American instincts. "I may not be as familiar as Senator Biden is with the details of the UN Constitution, but I tell you this: America should never, ever appease its enemies."
- In general, if you're feeling unsure of your ground on a particular question, don't charge in there on the substance of it and risk mistakes. Bat it away, be honest about where your expertise lies, and return to your core beliefs. "I don't pretend to know all the answers here, but I believe we need to listen to the American people...".
- Prepare and deliver an extensive and detailed answer on energy policy, where you really know your stuff. You only really need to demonstrate real authority on one question in order to dispel many of the low expectations surrounding you.
- Attack, attack, attack. As you demonstrated in the speech, nobody can attack Obama and Biden with as much charm and wit as you can. Go for it. Use some of the lines from your stump speech: most people won't have heard them. Remember to do it with a smile.
- Needle Biden. Your best chance of actually winning this debate is to provoke your opponent into a clumsy gaffe: getting him to lose his temper, or boast, or make a dreadfully patronising remark. Biden is quite capable of doing all these things, under pressure, when riled. So repeat some of the lines he and Obama have got mad about in recent weeks, including some of the most outrageous ones, and go for Biden's record in particular. He will not be able to help himself responding.
- Enjoy yourself.
UPDATE: memo to Biden here
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