Jim Young / Reuters; David McNew / Getty Images

Well, it was quite interesting watching the debates last night. Or lack of debate, so to speak. It seems that the debates were really about who could be the most effective at staying on message. There were a couple of times that things tried to be spontaneous. Yet, Biden never seemed to really debate Palin and Palin was just making sure she stayed on her talking points.

Apart from this, I did find there was quite a contrast between the two speakers.

I will give Palin credit for her ability to deliver an emotional argument that lacked any real substance. Her message while trying to appear positive certainly used the age old Republican tactic to communicate that we are all going to die with Obama in office.

Sorry to the Palin fans out there, I just don’t believe she really knew what she was talking about except for the issues around oil. In prepared comments, she did well to deliver a message that instilled the fear and generalities of an emotional argument.

As I was listening to Palin speak, it was conjuring up memories of my past. Then I realized she was delivering her speech in the manner of her Pentecostal roots. Having grown up listening to Pentecostal Preachers myself, the arguments she put forth sounded a lot like a Sunday sermon filled with emotion and fear to a congregation of sinners.

Biden did not seem to want to debate her. He stayed true to his message to challenge everything McCain and not touch Palin. I guess this was probably a smart move on the part of the Democrats. He did come across as a far more knowledgeable about topics than she. My criticism of him was that he did not debate Palin directly.

So, what is next. I guess Karl Rove is the soothsayer of what we can expect from the Republicans in the coming weeks. They will try to exploit some of the facts that Biden stretched to declare them liars, flip-floppers, or some other catchy phrase. Question is, will people listen?

So what was the lesson in all this? Emotions as argument.

In marketing, buying is an emotional event. If we want to sell to the general population, we need to trigger an emotive reaction to the product we are selling. I think Sarah Palin did a good job of selling an emotional argument. I don’t think she had any substance behind what she was saying, but she did a good job of selling fear with a “bless his heart” delivery.

Question is, will this be enough to turn an election?

I hope not because I do not want Sarah Palin to have access to the nuclear codes. Underneath that strong emotional delivery, I just don’t think there is anything there.

Damn….give her credit for marketing to the masses.