The following editorial appeared in the Chicago Tribune on Friday, Oct. 3:

Americans expected Thursday’s debate on the leafy campus of Washington University in St. Louis to answer this question: Is Republican Gov. Sarah Palin a capable candidate for vice president?

Early on, Palin signaled her strategy: not to debate with Democratic Sen. Joe Biden, whose 36 years in the Senate give him an advantage. “And I may not answer the questions that either the moderator or you want to hear,” she announced. “But I’m going to talk straight to the American people and let them know my track record also.”

She displayed the political strength we saw in her address to the Republican National Convention. She knows how to speak to America’s heart.

On several questions, Biden’s depth of experience showed. That was clearest when the veep candidates discussed global warming: Palin dithered and dodged; Biden hammered home a crisp message. Palin had a problem with the question because she has a problem with the issue. In the past, she has said she doesn’t believe global warming is a man-made issue. Thursday night, she said, maybe sorta.

Palin did land several zingers: When Biden sniffed she hadn’t offered a plan for exiting Iraq, she smiled at him and retorted, “Your plan is a white flag of surrender!” Biden, in turn, smiled broadly when Palin reminded him that, long before joining the Democratic ticket, he’d called Obama unready to be commander in chief.

Later, when Biden described years of congressional acrimony over Iraq, Palin gambled that many Americans are weary of re-debating the war’s origins: “I’m not used to how you guys (in Washington) operate,” she said. “You voted for the war, and now you’re against it.”

Neither candidate had an answer for the question that flummoxed their running mates last Friday: What plans will the federal government’s growing bailout obligations force your administration to drop?

Biden and Palin primarily responded by debating tax policy. Given the fast-rising national debt and its Draconian impact on future federal budgets, this was the evening’s most dispiriting passage. The least heartening answer came from Palin: “And how long have I been at this, like five weeks?”

Yes, and that’s what seems to have a growing number of people concerned.

Bottom line: We were heartened to see respectful discussion. Biden was in his comfort zone. He was more direct. He’s been where the action is. Palin clearly has not. He had depth; she had empathy. But she did not provide more confidence that she is ready to step into the most demanding job in the world at a moment’s notice.