Viewers Have Little Hope for Joe Biden in Vice Presidential Debate?
'America's Favorite Punch Line,' 'Gaffe-Prone' Being Used to Described Democratic VP
The media was abuzz early Thursday with speculation about how Vice President Joe Biden might fare against GOP challenger Rep. Paul Ryan, with viewers sharing photoshopped images on Twitter of the VP who some are calling "America's favorite punch line" and a "gaffe master."
Yahoo News national correspondent Virginia Heffernan analyzed how Biden has become pop culture fodder over the years, going all the way back to the 60s to make her case.
Heffernan writes: "Among the four candidates on the top ballot line for the two major parties this year, only one man has never shifted roles, through five decades in politics: Joe Biden. The vice president has always been a punch line. It's the joke that keeps changing."
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She adds, "This version of Biden—let's call him New Parody Biden—is also charming."
Heffernan isn't alone in her assessment. Patrick Gavin of Politico.com produced a round-up of articles tailored specifically to what kind of gaffes Biden is expected to make in Thursday night's debate against Ryan.
Gavin shares in his brief report:
Business Insider: "12 Reasons Why Democrats Should Be Terrified Of Joe Biden Taking Center Stage Tonight"
NPR: "… gaffe prone Biden …"
Reuters: "… he also has a reputation for gaffes …"
CNN: "Vice President Joe Biden is a gaffe-prone avuncular type."
The Daily Beast also jumped on the Biden-gaffe wagon, asking Twitter users: "Gaffe machine or top-notch political gunner -- which Joe Biden will show up for tonight's debate?"
The publication also shared a report by Matt Latimer profiling the many faces of Biden, which include: Uncle Cornball, Dan Quayle the Second, Bazooka Joe, and Delaware Joe.
Judging by the images rolling out over the Internet Thursday and comments being made by Twitter users, it appears Biden may indeed be everyone's favorite punch line. As for how much hope American voters have that the vice president will do well in tonight's debate, a Gallup poll suggests he has as much support as Ryan.
Although Biden and Ryan are nearly level in terms of favorability ahead of the debate, Gallup writes: "At 44%, Biden has the lowest pre-debate favorable rating of any Democratic vice presidential candidate of the past six elections. At 43%, Ryan's favorable score is no better, but he is viewed more positively than Vice President Quayle was in 1992 and roughly on par with Cheney in 2000."
Gallup notes that Al Gore was "easily the most popular vice presidential candidate of the last two decades."
Tonight's vice presidential debate is from 9:00-10:30 p.m. at Centre College in Danville, Ky., and is moderated by ABC News Senior Foreign Affairs Correspondent Martha Raddatz.
