Star Democratic political strategist Doug Schoen says Vice President Joe Biden “arguably” won Thursday’s debate with Republican challenger Paul Ryan.
Regardless of who won, though, it’s unlikely many votes will change either way, Schoen told Newsmax TV.
Watch the exclusive interview here.
“Biden was arguably more effective,” he said. “He had passion. He made a better case than the president did for the administration's record. Paul Ryan was competent — no more, no less.”
Urgent Poll: Who Won the Vice Presidential Debate? Vote Here!
Ryan’s best segment came during the discussion of the White House’s handling of the killings of four Americans in Libya last month, Schoen says. “The rest of the debate was more talking points than it was a breakthrough.”
Ryan did a good job of showing swing voters that he and running mate Mitt Romney aren’t rabid right wingers, the former pollster for Hillary Clinton said. “However, I don't think he had the passion or the empathy that Gov. Romney had last week.”
As for Biden, Schoen didn’t take a liking to his haughty disposition. “That was most off putting,” he said. “While I said Biden's substance was arguably compelling, the eye-rolling and laughing was off-putting and disturbing."
The strategist also objected to Biden’s personal attacks. “The Obama strategy, regrettably, is to demonize the opposition,” Schoen said. “The Obama campaign has sadly decided that demonization is a better strategy than trying to win on the merits.”
Bottom line: “I'm not sure that this is going to change too many votes,” Schoen said. “Biden, at the very least, froze the narrative. And the hemorrhaging that's been going on substantively and message-wise on the Obama side was neutralized, at least for tonight.”
Urgent Poll: Who Won the Vice Presidential Debate? Vote Here!
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