Following Thursday night’s vice-presidential debate, there is still some indecision on whom people will vote for.
A group known as the JavaCat Gals spoke this morning about last night’s vice-president debate between Democratic Sen. Joe Biden and Republican Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin. The group has been meeting every Friday at JavaCat-5, 610 Merchant St., for six years.
They usually stay away from politics, they said, but when prompted this morning they agreed to give feedback on the debate. The group included Jeanne Bartlow of Emporia, Jan Smoots of Emporia, Rosaetta Fields of Emporia, Treva Stuck of Emporia, Sarah Mounkes of Reading and Char Miller of Emporia.
Thursday evening’s debate, which was a 90-minute broadcast from Washington University in St. Louis, was well anticipated throughout the country. Issues included taxes, energy and the Iraq war. According to the Associated Press, two quick polls indicated that Biden fared better in the debate. A CBS News/Knowledge Networks Poll found that 46 percent of uncommitted voters who watched the debate thought Biden won, with 21 percent siding with Palin. A CNN poll found respondents judging Biden the winner by a margin of 51 percent to 39 percent. However, locally, the view is a little different.
“I thought it (the debate) was good and I thought it was well done,” Bartlow said. “They both did a good job. I think Sarah (Palin) shined.”
Bartlow added that she thought Palin won the debate overall, however she liked both vice-presidential candidates. Bartlow and other group members remain undecided in whom they will vote for next month.
The group continued discussion and talked about what they would like to hear more about, which included energy, the economy, health care and education. The debate also gave an opportunity for viewers to see the whole story instead of scripted and cut portions that the mainstream media presents.
“We have all become so cynical,” Bartlow said, adding that she doesn’t fully trust what the media and government puts out there.
Whether or not the John McCain and Sarah Palin ticket wins the bid for president, the coffee group agreed that this won’t be the last the country sees of Palin. But, Smoots said, Palin still is showing some of her naiveté.