I did stick through the whole thing, and I thought I was watching an amateur HS debating group who had memorized their debate books. I felt like I was playing
Consultant Bingo, but with debating politicians, to see who was the first one to put a checkmark against all of the talking points from their study/cheat sheet. Both sides were so busy trying to score gotcha points that they didn't do a good job about telling us why their side is the right side. Really, the narrative being spun was incredibly weak. (And Ifill didn't do a good job of trying to trying to weave and draw out that structure, either.)
I know that's what the political pros say the job of the VP is to do, but to me, if he/she cannot ennunciate the core goals/value-added (yes, check off a square on your consultant bingo card) of your administration (and change and maverick don't count as a strategy), then please step aside for someone more capable. I'm not suggesting I know who that person is, but all I see right now are a bunch of amateurs (and this applies to both tickets, top and bottom) programmed and poll tested to death, yet removed of most real humanity and sense of what they'd really do.
You know, I cannot tell you what each of these tickets think we should be doing on day one. They've got a long list of promises (which they know they won't be able to keep without major tax increases), and yet I cannot tell you what their 60 or 120 day priorities are. And don't give me the BS about waiting to see what the reality is on inauguration day. You have a strategy, you execute, and when you discover something is different, you adjust and move on. That's why I liked the concept of McCain suspending his campaign to work on the financial mess we're in (though the execution of it, by not literally stopping everything else that was essentially trivial, like interviews and keynote speeches). That's what a real leader does, within limits. You start working the channels, you delegate, you keep on top of things. It becomes priority number 1, though you don't throw everything else off the shelf. But recognizing that a campaign (in reality) is fluff in a time of serious national risk is the right call (IMO).
I still think both candidates are blowing it. I don't get a sense that either are really ready or right for the job, never mind their VP selections. I had high hopes for both, but am bitterly disappointed.