Sunday, May 19, 2013

Home
VP Debate Similar to Boxing Match
CBS poll shows Biden won, but more presidential debates to come.
By Megan Edge


ANCHORAGE - Election season is in full swing.

In Thursday night’s debate with Vice President Joe Biden and Vice Presidential nominee Paul Ryan, proverbial punches were thrown, and there were swings, ducks and near misses.

Some said you could compare a presidential debate to a fight in the local boxing ring.

“It’s like chess,” said first-time boxer Shawn Shelby, who duked it out for the first time in a ring Thursday.

“If I was fighting you, what are your strong points? What are your weak points?”

Shelby said sizing up your opponent is a part of any match -- in national politics or at the local Thursday Night Fights.

“I come out here to have fun, play around a little and knock him out the second round.” Which is exactly what a CBS National News Poll said Biden did to his Vice Presidential challenger.

500 undecided voters gave Biden a 20 percent edge over the nominee. “My record stands for itself,” said Biden during the debate. “I never say anything I don’t mean. Whatever I say I do.”

It’s a simple attitude that according to the polls worked. And it is also an attitude that translates every time you step in the ring. “Make them look uglier than you,” said main event boxer Preston Lie.

Lie said it all comes down to the final punch. “There is a moment when you hit a guy, he backs down and you know you’ve won. But if he stands back up you’re like, ‘oh ****, he is going to hit me harder.’”

Biden may have taken round two for the series, but the championship won’t be determined until after President Barack Obama and challenger Mitt Romney throw on the gloves two more times.

They will take the stage again Tuesday to talk foreign policy.