Party pros spin the debate

ST. LOUIS, Oct. 3 (UPI) -- Democratic and Republican party staffers focused on GOP nominee Sarah Palin's performance in comments on Thursday's vice presidential debate in St. Louis.

Frank Donatelli, a spokesman for the Republican National Committee, said the Alaska governor "held her own" against Delaware Sen. Joe Biden, who first ran for the Senate when Palin was in elementary school, NBC reported.

"She had to give a general idea of where the country would be headed," Donatelli said, answering the charge that Palin was short on specifics. "It may be true that Biden was better in talking 'Washington speak,' she was better in talking to Main (Street)."

Donatelli said Palin will be available for more interviews. Her initial national interviews have become fodder for late-night TV shows and have prompted several prominent conservatives to suggest she is not prepared to be vice president.

David Plouffe, Barack Obama's campaign manager, said Palin did well while selling a "failed product."

"I was given some grief for saying earlier that she was a strong debater -- she is a strong debater," he said. "There were some platitudes, but I don't think there was much 'there' there, in terms of what specifically are you going to do."