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    Expectations to the Rescue!

    After Sarah Palin's interviews with Katie Couric, expectations could not be lower. Even showing up would be a victory.*

    But as usual, both campaigns are engaging in the usual counterintuitive praise for their opponents. The best quote comes from Obama campaign manager David Plouffe as he tried to ratchet up expectations—reportedly provoking guffaws from the press scrum.

    "Governor Palin is one of the best debaters in American politics,” Plouffe said. “If you look at her - no she is. Her 2006 debate, she knew where she wanted to take every question, and so I think she'll be relentlessly on message tonight, and again I'm sure she'll have any number of biting and witty one-liners. But our focus is on the person sitting at home in Canton, Ohio, tonight, Akron, Ohio, tonight, who's struggling economically."

    *Update: The debate has begun. She is here.  

About Christopher Beam

  • Christopher Beam is a Slate political reporter.
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