9:56 PM: This is getting brutal.
9:59 PM: The economics, social insurance and taxes conversations were not good for Ryan.
10:00 PM: Perhaps if Obama gets a cold Biden can sub in against Romney?
10:02 PM: Ryan’s lost on explaining the Afghanistan drawdown.
10:05 PM: Biden took 30 geritols this morning. Even getting in Raddatz’s face now.
10:06 PM: I think we’re at the point of the fight when both boxers are hanging on each other.
10:08 PM: I think there’s a smallish chance Biden might actually tell someone to get off his lawn.
10:10 PM: On foreign policy Ryan’s giving off a real Doogie Houser vibe, as per TPM Reader SS.
10:12 PM: There’s a limit on how much sense you can make when you’re just regurgitating stuff from your briefing books that you don’t know much about.
10:15 PM: National security interest standard doesn’t make the death toll of Syrians relevant.
9:36 PM: Ryan’s dishonesty on the whole issue of social insurance is mind-blogging.
9:39 PM: Biden, back on fire.
9:40 PM: “Under duress …”
9:40 PM: Voucher, voucher, voucher, voucher …
9:44 PM: I suspect a bunch of reporters are going to try to make a thing about Biden’s smiles and guffaws. But I think Democrats are going to feel Biden made their case.
9:46 PM: Guaranteed benefit to premium support. My God, substance. WTF?!?!?!
9:49 PM: I think this when Biden needs to mention the Clinton years.
9:51 PM: Ryan can’t answer the question.
9:51 PM: I’ll say it again. Whatever happens, Biden’s making the Democrats’ arguments. They’re all right there. Nothing is getting left unsaid. Nothing.
9:04 PM: I’m not sure they’re ready for Joe Biden.
9:06 PM: Ryan looks out of his depth.
9:12 PM: Curious what values Ryan is talking about apologizing for.
9:19 PM: Pretty clearly Biden got a lecture about smiling when he’s off camera.
9:23 PM: Apparently the reporters at the debate are all chattering about Biden’s smiles and smirks when Ryan’s talking.
9:26 PM: Okay, I think this is what Dems were waiting for from Obama. Never going to get something like this from Obama. This is vintage Biden.
9:29 PM: “I always say what I mean. And so does Mitt Romney.”
9:30 PM: My sense so far is that these two guys are both doing a pretty solid job. In very different ways. But both hitting key marks. The tide keeps running back and forth.
9:32 PM: That was the best run for Biden so far.
9:33 PM: Ding! Stimulus.
9:35 PM: Ryan held his own, maybe even better than that on foreign policy. Biden owned him on domestic policy.
Okay, that’s it. This is a pre-live blog.
9:00 PM: Okay, here’s a link for watching the debate live on your Internets.
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The Romney/Ryan camp has apparently insisted that Ryan be referred to as “Mr” during the debate rather than “Congressman.” So Biden — presumably he’s going by “Vice President” rather than like “Doc Biden” or something — has to refer to Ryan as “Mr. Ryan.” Presumably this is because Congress is generally unpopular and they want to seem like outsiders. But isn’t this exactly the kind of thing that makes you seem juvenile when someone leaks this on you? Good idea? Hard to figure.
Join us tonight at 9 p.m. ET for the vice presidential debate. You’ll be able to watch it live here. We’ll have ongoing coverage at TPMLivewire, reporting on the ground from Kentucky by TPM’s Evan McMorris-Santoro, and Josh Marshall liveblogging. See you at 9.
Here’s the video of Obama a short time ago at that speech in Florida. If you’re still morose about the debate, you’ll want to watch.