Biden vs. Palin

Thunderous applause rang out across the Marvin Center Thursday night at Vice Presidential candidates Joeseph Biden and Sarah Palin took to the stage at Washington University for the only Vice Presidential debate this election.

Hosted by the GW Program Board, College Republicans and College Democrats alike gathered in the Grand Ballroom of the Marvin Center to watch the debate together.

Going into the debate, both organizations had high hopes for their candidates. Alicia Froio, Freshman Representative for the College Democrats, said she thought Biden would do "a heck of a lot better" than Palin. On the other side, Conor Rogers, Freshmen Representative for the College Republicans, asserted that Palin "will do very well," and that when se gets to speak freely, the polls bounce for McCain.

Notably, the ballroom was divided up into two sections - the College Democrats on the left side and the College Republicans on the right, with a large aisle separating the two. As the debate progressed, it became very clear as to why the two groups were seated in separate sections.

Several times throughout the night, an accusation made by one of the two candidates would send one of the groups into bouts of applause in favor of their candidate. At one point, when Biden accused current Vice President Dick Cheney of being "very dangerous," the College Democrats cheered fro several moments. Palin's assertion that she does not support gay marriage was welcomed with equally loud applause from the College Republicans.

Next Tuesday, Presidential candidates Barack Obama and John McCain will meet for their second of three pre-election debates in Nashville, Tennessee.

-Alex Laska