Vice Presidential Debate Live, CNN Vice Presidential Debate Online
Sen. Joe Biden gave a knowledgeable but restrained performance in Thursday night's debate, while Gov. Sarah Palin sought to show that her accomplishments as governor and mayor prove she is qualified to be vice president.
Biden slammed John McCain, saying that "he has been no maverick on the issues that matter to people lives," but his only challenge to Palin was asking her to articulate a policy on the Iraq war.
Palin pushed her "track record of reform" and said she and McCain are a " team of mavericks."
"We're known for putting partisan politics aside to just get the job done," she said.
Sarah Palin tried to paint Barack Obama as "dangerous" for being open to meeting with rogue leaders without preconditions.
"An issue like that taken up by a presidential candidate goes beyond naivete and goes beyond poor judgment," Palin said.
"A statement that he made like that is downright dangerous because leaders like [Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who would seek to acquire nuclear weapons and wipe off the face of the earth an ally like we have in Israel should not be met with without preconditions and diplomatic efforts being undertaken first."
In a debate last summer, Obama said he would meet with Ahmadinejad without preconditions. He later clarified to say he would not meet with him without preparations.
Palin also said Obama's campaign does "too much finger-pointing" to be serious about its call for change.
"There have been huge blunders in the war. There have been huge blunders throughout this administration, as there are with every administration.
"But for a ticket that wants to talk about change and looking into the future, there's too much finger-pointing backwards to ever make us believe that's where you're going," she said.
Biden responded with, "Past is prologue."
He said it is relevant to call out problems with the Bush administration because so far, McCain's policy "is the same as George Bush's, and you know where that policy has taken us."
"We will make significant change so once again we're the most respected nation in the world," Biden said.
Biden called current Vice President Dick Cheney "one of the most dangerous vice presidents."
Biden said he would serve a different role than Cheney if Obama was elected president.
"I would not be the president," said Biden. "But I would be there to give advice."
The vice presidential candidates are facing off in their only scheduled debate of the election season.
Earlier in the debate, Palin praised the surge in Iraq and said Obama voted against funding the troops in Iraq.
"The surge and counter insurgency has worked," said Palin. "It would be a shame if we quit on Iraq."
Biden said he and Obama will be the administration that will end the war and said McCain also voted against the funding.
"We will end the war. With John McCain there is no end to the war," Biden said
On education, Palin attacked the Bush education policy of "No Child Left Behind" by stating that it is not working.
Palin said she comes from a house of school teachers and took time during the debate to give a "shout out" to a third grade class back in Alaska saying they got "extra credit" for watching the debate.
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