This is the first of a two-part entry on what each of the candidates must do at the VP debate.
Biden must do three things tonight:
1) Discipline himself. The debate format, with limited response times, may help him a bit. But he needs to keep his answers succinct and on-message. He knows how to do this, but doesn’t always follow through.
2) Ignore Sarah Palin. Speak to the American people and to Gwen Ifill. Stick to the message of the Obama campaign. The format prevents back-and-forth discussion so Biden will have few chances to martyr Palin by “bullying” her. That’s fortunate. Biden should pretend Palin is not in the room.
3) Attack John McCain. Biden has been very strong at this. Palin will undoubtedly attack Obama, so Biden must get his zingers in at McCain.
If Biden stays disciplined, ignores the Palin distraction, and goes after John McCain, then he wins.
Next up, I’ll explain what Sarah Palin has to do.