Locals see no clear winner in VP debate

EDINBURG — Crowds of attentive viewers sipped cocktails and beers at The Social Club in Edinburg during the highly anticipated vice presidential face-off Thursday night between Republican Sarah Palin and Democrat Joe Biden.

During the debate, Biden adopted a straightforward, restrained tone, while Palin's was folksy and casual.

Some patrons at the bar complained she used her charm to keep from sounding rehearsed and unnatural.

"It's hard to tell if she knows what she's saying or if it was just fed to her," said Miguel Diaz-Barriga.

"Let me put it this way: If I had a personal trainer for two months, I'd be in pretty good shape right now."

Hector Casas, the bar's owner, said the debate was too tame and didn't focus enough on the economy.

"They're not saying anything new," he said. "Nobody wants to step on anybody's toes."

Hesitant to declare an all-out winner, Angelika Soldan, a government professor at the University of Texas-Brownsville, said Biden's responses were more specific than Palin's, though her easygoing image probably appealed much more to Americans.

"Biden took a lot of points, but he looked restrained and answered more to (Republican presidential nominee John) McCain than to Palin," she said. "Those more politically informed would probably say (Biden) was the winner, but the general public would choose Palin."

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Ana Ley covers law enforcement and general assignments for The Monitor. She can be reached at (956) 683-4428.