Republican strategist Bradley A. Blakeman tells Newsmax that Thursday’s debate between Vice President Joe Biden and GOP challenger Paul Ryan was more noteworthy for what it didn’t cover than what it did.
“There was no talk about gas prices, no talk about energy in any depth, or immigration, or trade, or budgeting,” said Blakeman, a Newsmax contributor, who appears regularly on Fox News. “Clearly this election will turn on the economy. Why was the debate almost entirely driven by foreign policy and the military?”
Blakeman, who was a senior member in the last Bush administration, blamed ABC News’ Martha Raddatz, who served as debate moderator.
He said her background was heavily weighted toward foreign events and the military, topics that subsequently took center stage at the debate.
“Clearly her resume dominated the debate when it should have been what the American people are most worried about,” according to Blakeman. “When gas prices are $6 in California, you don’t have one question about gas prices or energy as a serious in-depth question on immigration or trade or budgeting?”
Raddatz’ selection was also questioned in the days leading up to Thursday’s event when reports surfaced that President Barack Obama attended her wedding to FCC Commission Chairman Julius Genachowski in 1991.
Despite the emphasis on foreign policy, Ryan held his own with Biden and managed to edge past the Democrat, according to Blakeman.
“I score the debate slightly for Ryan ahead of Biden because of his performance not only on the economy, but on issues that he was supposed to be not as adept on,” said Blakeman. “I think he showed himself on foreign policy and military to be toe- to-toe with the sitting vice president.”
Blakeman doesn’t believe either campaign will get a bump from the vice-presidential debate.
“If anything Biden showed himself for what he is. He’s a blowhard and an entrenched politician,” insisted Blakeman. “I think Ryan showed himself to be a budding statesman who told the American people squarely that they’re going to roll up their sleeves and they’re not going to blame anybody. They’re going to get the job done.”
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