The CBS poll says Biden won 46 percent to 21. The CNN poll says Biden won 51 to 39. (Yahoo News) Not really a shock considering Biden’s experience level over Palin’s. What I want to know is whether the spin will be that Palin didn’t suck as hard as we thought she would, so therefore she’s awesome (ala Gore/Bush debate circa 2000).

But they’ve both demonstrated a propensity for foot-in-mouth disease so I’m sure handlers on both sides were nursing their ulcers tonight in anticipation of some kind of serious gaffe. Luckily that didn’t seem to materialize.

Depending on your criteria for judging the VP debate between Sen. Joe Biden and Gov. Sarah Palin tonight, colors who the winner is. Loyalists on both sides are going to say their pick won. That’s a given. But what about the nuances?

Let’s break it down:

• Experience and relevant knowledge: Biden. No question. And I don’t think anyone really thought it would go the other way. He has 35 years in the senate! He’s a lawyer! In fact, he’s actually worked along-side McCain for years. (And he did a nice job of reminding folks of that over and over as he mentioned work he did over the years. A nice little one-two combo at Palin’s relative inexperience and relative lack of a relationship/history with McCain.) And I’m sorry, Palin, being the mayor of Wasilla and governor of Alaska for less than two years does not come close to 35 years in the Senate, no matter what math you use.
• Answering questions with relevant answers: Again, Biden. How many times did Palin go off topic? (And WTF does being from “an energy-rich state” have to do with education, again?) So often that she made it a point of pride to say that she wasn’t dodging questions, she was “talking straight to Americans” without the jabberwocky of “mainstream media” filtering her answers. Pesky mainstream media. That’s why I blog! My personal fave was when she dodged a question about her Achilles heel with a scripted response about how awesome and “maverick” John McCain is. WTF?! Does she think she’s getting extra-credit for how many times she strokes McCain’s dick in the debate, and says the word “maverick?” Ick.
• Folksy charm and flirting with America: Palin. Yeah, I said it. I know flirting when I see it. I’m pretty sure Palin was trying to get in my pants. She’s cute, but not that cute! But she does have a pretty smile and nice gams. And I just love it when she talks about being “blessed,” “Main Street Wasilla,” and “conversations around the kitchen table.” Cue cute smile. John McCain. Maverick. God. Troops. And … smile.
• Best coaching of candidate: Palin by a landslide! Was that a cribsheet she had on her podium?
• Decrying equity for all (aka saying no to same-sex marriage): Despicable tie! Biden, how could you? You’re the author of the Violence Against Women Act! Grow some balls! I’m very disappointed in you.
• Appropriate one-upping: Excuse me Gov. Palin, Biden will see your “single-mom” talk with actual dead wife and daughter rap, including appropriate and yet still manly emotion. And really Palin, did you actually think you could trump being a single dad (aka widower) because of tragic dead wife/daughter accident? Really?! That’s just tacky or a very bad attempt at the gender card.
• Son in the military and off to Iraq: Tie! And shameless. (But kudos to Biden for remembering to have God bless them in his closing comments! Very nice touch.)

Advantage: Biden.