Noonan: Debate Likely Increases Romney Momentum

Vice President Joe Biden’s insolent behavior in Thursday’s debate will probably help advance the Romney campaign, says Peggy Noonan, a speech writer for former President Ronald Reagan

“The problem with the debate was the weird distance between style and content, and the degree to which Mr. Biden's style poisoned his content,” she writes in The Wall Street Journal.

“In terms of content — the seriousness and strength of one's positions and the ability to argue for them — the debate was probably a draw, with both candidates having strong moments. But in terms of style, Mr. Biden was so childishly manipulative that it will be surprising if independents and undecideds liked what they saw.”

The Democratic side confuses strength with rudeness, Noonan says. And Biden wasn’t particularly adept with his nastiness. “The things he said had the rhythm and smirk of sarcasm without the cutting substance,” she said

“And so the Romney-Ryan ticket emerged ahead. Its momentum was neither stopped nor slowed and likely was pushed forward.”

The key test will be the final two presidential debates, Noonan says. And the last one will be most important, as the next one is a town hall rather than one-on-one.