This is familiar. Someone thought Africa was a country on some show recently. I know it was a true or false question on “Are you smarter than a Fifth Grader”.
1st Grade World Geography: True or False? Africa is a country south of Europe.
True False
http://www.quibblo.com/quiz/2U2_ykv/Ultimate-Are-You-Smarter-Than-A-Fifth-Grader-1
In the debate, she obviously knew that Darfur is in Sudan. So the idea she didn't know Africa is a continent sounds phony. Maybe Madden thought she wasn't up to speed and tossed out the comment as a hyperbolic. I wish I had the transcript of the debate, there may have been a wider reference to Africa.