VP debate puts pressure on Palin
Thursday, 02 Oct 2008 08:48
Sarah Palin takes on Joe Biden in the vice-presidential debate
The United States' vice-presidential candidates will meet for their only head-to-head debate later today.
Joe Biden for the Democrats and Sarah Palin for the Republicans will meet in the immediate aftermath of the furore on Capitol Hill over whether or not to pass a $700 billion (£380 billion) rescue package.
Both face added pressure to perform given the greater than usual attention placed on the vice-presidency this year.
Initial positive media coverage of Ms Palin, the governor of Alaska, has been replaced with a growing scepticism in the US as she struggles to convince some right-wing commentators.
It will be up to Ms Palin to reverse the trend this evening as she faces a real test of her ability.
Mr Biden, the senator from Delaware and chair of the Senate's foreign relations committee, was added to the Democrat ticket to boost Barack Obama's foreign policy credentials.
He is known for his outspoken attacks on the Republican administration and will be hoping to perform well later tonight.
The debate takes place at the Washington University in St Louis at 20:00 local time (02:00 BST tomorrow).