What to Look for in Tonight’s Vice Presidential Debate, Words and Body Language

NBC news has this article on what to look for in tonight’s vice presidential debates. Of course, I will be looking at the body language as well.  After the presidential debate last week I will be particularly interested to see how Vice President Biden, who is known for wining debates easily, will look up against the young whippersnapper, Ryan, who has never debated as the article says, “…the entire nation watching.” Will Ryan know, as Biden does, to look at the camera as if it is a person? Will he know how to hold his facial composure for the close up when Biden is talking? Will Biden gesture and move more to look young and energetic and will Ryan uses more vocal pauses to look powerful?  Ryan is use to speeches where he has lots of time and he doesn’t have to compete. Will his face show his stress during the short timed response? Will he rush or slow down? Will Biden smirk and show other cues of disrespect for Ryan?

http://firstread.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/10/11/14368684-10-things-to-watch-in-tonights-biden-ryan-debate?lite

Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at http://PattiWood.net. Also check out the body language quiz on her YouTube Channel at http://youtube.com/user/bodylanguageexpert.

Vice Presidential Debates--Palin and Biden’s Body Language

My Ramblings on Body Language:

The non interaction rule set by McCain’s team worked to Biden’s benefit. His usual over the top anger and ranting was much more restrained. Yes, Biden was angry. Yes, he pointed and used one handed and two handed chopping motions to make his points, but this time his anger made Biden appear earnest and sincere.

Yes, he got angry at Palin very early in the debate and he occasionally pointed his finger at her and many times he jumped in to say she was wrong before he was called on. Still, he could have been more attacking and he would have looked far worse.

Palin started with a smile and kept a smile on for most of the debate. Click here to hear my comments on the O'reilly Factor: http://www.pattiwood.net or read the interview below.

Palin walks the “B line” well.
What is the B line?
Well, women have to walk a line between being too feminine and being perceived as weak or going too far to the other side of the line and being perceived as a B***ch. Powerful women have the hardest time with it. Hilary Clinton didn’t have a problem choosing. She stayed strong and in doing so came across too far on the “B side”.

Palin wants to be more feminine so she uses her beautiful beauty queen smile to mask her anger. At times, especially near the end of the debate, the smile became a “snarl” and made her look condescending. We don’t like “masking smiles” on powerful people.

Palin did a little blinking when she started but not the highly nervous 50 to 60 blinks per minute or the 80 blinks per minute often called the “Nixon effect”. She went to her strength, her down home folksy manner of delivery. Her little "betcha’s" and other contractions were a little much when she talked about the big issues, but overall they evoked a “ Reaganistic” warmth and the approval ratings soared. Tune in for more as I talk about Palin’s winks and Biden's head tilts later...


To view my ABC News article and more on this subject visit my site.