Gathered in a viewing room in the Hall of Languages minutes before Thursday’s vice presidential debate between Sen. Joe Biden (D-Delaware) and Gov. Sarah Palin (R-Alaska), a dozen or so members of Syracuse University’s Students for John McCain group received an unexpected knock at the door.

It was three members of SU’s Students for Barack Obama group. It seems they, too, had reserved the room.

In a scene worthy of the Senate floor, 40 students watched last night’s debate almost entirely split down the middle, with Obama supporters on the left and McCain supporters on the right.

The mixed group led to a wide variety of opinions on the debate, most notably on Palin.

‘She will be a strong, strong VP and a strong commander-in-chief,’ said Nick Johnson, a junior political science and international relations major and president of Students for McCain. ‘She knows the policies, she knows the facts, and she knows America most importantly.’

The Democratic counterparts were less enthusiastic about the Alaskan governor, saying she had little substance behind her elegant words.

‘She keeps bringing up how she was mayor of Wasilla, Alaska, with its 6,000 people, which is completely irrelevant, but she sounds awesome,’ said Sara Brainard, a senior political science and Middle Eastern studies major and member of the Students for Obama group.

Even with Biden’s high visibility as a long-time senator and a one-time presidential candidate, the night focused on Palin. Students, both conservative and liberal, scrutinized the governor’s opinions.

Johnson was particularly impressed with Palin’s comments on energy policy.

‘She knows energy,’ he said. ‘I thought she did a great job showing how she will lead and take the lead in making our country energy-independent.’

Sara Guzzone, a senior public relations major and Students for Obama Media Director, was unimpressed with Palin’s positions on tax policy.

‘(It) reminded me of that time in high school when someone running for student government would promise more candy bars in the vending machine,’ she said.

Palin’s actions drew the most demonstrative reactions from an otherwise quiet audience. The Alaskan governor’s wink during one answer drew limited applause from her supporters, while a ‘shout-out’ to her brother’s third grade students during another answer garnered laughter.

Biden, on the other hand, drew considerably less varied evaluations from both conservative and liberal on-lookers.

‘Joe Biden, with 35 years of experience, he’s had time in the spotlight, he did what he had to do,’ Johnson said.

Brainard agreed and said he had done a good job.

‘He’s managed to explain things very thoroughly,’ she said.

The student viewers didn’t notice any biting remarks between the candidates and thought it was overall an affable debate.

‘There were a few little comments back and forth but overall it was friendly,’ Brainard said.

dafersh@syr.edu