The debate between vice presidential candidates Thursday night gave both Democratic and Republican loyalists reason to be satisfied. Sarah Palin, the inexperienced governor of Alaska who is GOP presidential nominee John McCain's running mate, stood her ground. She aimed to match Sen. Joe Biden, her counterpart under Democratic standard-bearer Sen. Barack Obama, in tossing out facts, figures and votes -- in her case, intended to make her opponents look contradictory in their stances and uncertain in their positions on the war in Iraq.

Biden, a veteran of 35 years in the Senate and the current chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, is a skilled debater and comfortably discusses the nation's pressing issues. He made strong points in calling up the votes of McCain favoring deregulation of the financial industry and attempting to show the veteran Arizona senator's connections to the policies of George W. Bush, whose troubled presidency is winding down. Republicans had their hopes that Biden, known for sometimes blunt remarks, would stick his foot in his mouth. He didn't.

Palin had never been in this bright a national spotlight, and in recent weeks has stumbled, appearing uninformed in national television interviews. Such was not the case Thursday. The governor displayed familiarity with national and international issues and articulated her positions -- which, despite claims to the contrary, do follow the Bush administration's policies fairly closely -- well, though not with a great deal of depth. She did at one point acknowledge that there had been many mistakes in the Bush presidency, a "distancing" that McCain's camp undoubtedly feels is necessary if the senator has a chance to stop his recent slide in some important states.

And yes, the governor was "folksy," and had some good moments in trying to connect with middle-class voters who seem to be the biggest victims, and the angriest ones, in the wake of the financial collapse of Wall Street that has left rubble in the mortgages on Main Street.

But Biden was effective in noting McCain's vulnerability on economic issues, and the fact that McCain has seemed to come lately, very lately, to the realization that the country's financial system needs a major overhaul. (McCain only weeks ago pronounced the economy fundamentally sound, a statement that is coming back to haunt him.)

As to Iraq, Biden made a good case for the position favored by Obama of a quicker redeployment of troops to Afghanistan and a transfer to the Iraqi government of responsibility for the war. Palin supported McCain's position of a slower Iraq draw-down.

Biden's knowledge of a range of issues appeared to be based in experience that would equip him well to assume the presidency, which is the primary concern, and should be, of those examining a potential vice president's qualifications. Palin probably calmed some Republican voters with her performance, but her bigger task was to convince mainstream undecided voters that she is ready to be president of the United States. That was, and remains, a tall order.

Get $150+ in coupons in every Sunday N&O. Click here for convenient home delivery.