Don’t let us get overconfident. Biden is an idiot and a gaffe machine, but he actually does have some knowledge (more than his boss) and his brain cells might click into action for this one.
Ryan is going to be caught between two fires: if the idiot Biden emerges, Ryan’s going to look like he’s being cruel to the elderly and disabled; if the partisan “elder statesman” Biden emerges, Ryan is going to look young, inexperienced and cowed.
I thought the “just the facts” strategy used in Romney’s debate was good. Ryan is a brilliant man and a very attractive personality who could probably overshadow his boss very easily, but I don’t think he wants to do that.
Ryan expresses himself in a witty and intelligent way, he’s a very dynamic personality, and I think he will do well if he has all his ducks in a row and is prepared for either the “white working class schmoozer Uncle Joe” (a joke, considering Biden’s real background) or the “moderate elder statesman” (also a joke, since Biden was one of the most consistently left-wing members of the legislature).
Look, Biden is thinking..after the disaster of Obama's first debate, here's my big chance to shine, be a star.. save the ticket ( and, oh yeah..give myself a boost for 2016 no matter what happens next month.)
So he will put both his foot and his brain in his mouth..and something really, REALLY dumb and stupid will come out ..
I like your take on this. Building high expectations of a smack-down are unwise, and set up Ryan for either trying to hard, or seeming to underperform if he doesn’t. Biden can perform better than his public perception, and is somewhat dangerous.
A Vice-Presidential running mate is always a potential millstone. Ryan doesn’t have to hit a home run, but to appear credible and avoid stepping on mines. He needs to seem mature, alert, competent, and in command of the facts. I do not know Ryan’s style, but Biden seems the perfect mark for rope-a-dope: manipulate Biden into a rambling defense of the Obama record and he will beat himself senseless.