IPFW professor: VP debate matters

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) Vice President Joe Biden and Republican Congressman Paul Ryan square off Thursday night in the only scheduled vice presidential debate.   An expert at IPFW said there's plenty at stake on both sides that could make an impact on each campaign.

Biden and Ryan debate in Danville, Kentucky at 9:00 p.m.  It’s a performance Michael Wolf, associate professor of political science at IPFW, said voters will be talking about.

“It is the first time we really see whether or not they are able to be viewed as a potential president, should something unfortunately happen,” Wolf said.  “For a lot of people they may not watch it the first go around and see the whole thing but they will see the highlights played out on the news or hear about it at work and come away with impressions that maybe they haven't received just from watching it themselves.  That's why the performance end of this is so important.”

Many thought Romney to have a stronger performance in the first presidential debate.  Thursday, Wolf said each party has a new opportunity for momentum, but there may be more at stake for Ryan as a more unknown candidate.

“The kind of narrative behind Joe Biden is he's a solid vice president, knows a lot about issues, but he's gaff prone.  So if he has a gaff Thusday, then people will say, 'Well that's Joe being Joe,'” Wolf said.  “If Paul Ryan has a gaff Thursday, then that's more of a story because this does not seem to be something people know about him.”

Wolf said the first debate was a great chance for voters to look at each candidate's perspective on issues, but thinks it will be up to the moderator for that trend to continue.

“The moderator will have to decide do you dive right into the issues or do you have some more of the character looked at since we know less about these people than we certainly do at the top end of the ticket,” Wolf said. 

Thursday’s moderator will be Martha Raddatz of ABC News.  She is already being scrutinized for her connection to the president.  He was invited to her 1991 wedding.