Do you really win debates by winking, giving shouts and being folksey?

I really really hate to bring race into this but if Sara Palin were a minority winking and acting all folksey and down home would the majority in America really be so quick to support her? I'm just sayin....they got all over Obama for referring to a young female journalist in Michigan as "sweetie". lol However, it's OK, for Gov. Palin to wink and be down home in a nationally televised debate.

Do you really win debates by winking, giving shouts and being folksey?
No, you win debates by connecting with the people and ensuring them that you can give them what they need. You have to know what you're talking about. She was told what to say. She has no idea what foreign policy even is, so what she is talking about isn't really relevant to her. When she talks unscripted, she crashes and burns. That's the real her and so, I don't trust her to lead this country. She doesn't know more than one supreme court case and doesn't even know what newspaper she reads. She didn't win the debate and she didn't say anything to change my mind about her except that she didn't embarrass the GOP ticket again.
Reply:The winking was creepy. It just made my skin crawl.
Reply:You're right that as a woman, she can get away with that but at the same time, W was elected twice by being folksy. Sad to say but so many people vote based on how they "feel" about the candidate instead of basing their vote on issues they care about.
Reply:Sure, charisma helps in a debate, especially in one such as this; people like their leaders to be down-to-earth. But had she shown complete ignorance as (incorrectly) predicted, no amount of personality would have been able to save her. It's a fine line.


(And no, I don't support her).
Reply: I don't think so. Yet what exactly there in your letter-details to make some conclusion about Obama's or Palin"s performance in the dabate did not illunimate my mind from your words.Sorry!
Reply:I dont want to sound like Im bragging or anything but I DID win my sixth grade class presidency by winking, giving shouts, and acting VERY folksey. It really helped my campaign. That and running a smear campaign against my opponent that he wore girl's underwear. I was meant for great things.