More than 100 UC Berkeley students and faculty gathered at the Institute of Governmental Studies Library to watch the televised debate between vice presidential nominees Sen. Joseph Biden and Gov. Sarah Palin yesterday evening.

At the debate sponsored by Cal Berkeley Democrats and Berkeley College Republicans, onlookers cheered and hissed as Biden and Palin discussed a number of hot-topic issues including foreign policy, energy and the economy. Supporters of Sen. Barack Obama waved signs to show their enthusiasm throughout the evening.

Biden tackled the first issue regarding the $700 billion bailout plan that the House of Representatives is set to vote on today.

"The economic policies of the last eight years have been the worst economic policies we've ever had," he said.

"As a consequence, you've seen what's happened on Wall Street."

Palin consistently insisted that Obama and Biden should not look "backwards" in their policy proposals.

"An increased tax formula that Barack Obama is proposing in addition to nearly a trillion dollars in new spending that he's proposing is the backwards way of trying to grow our economy," she said.

A CNN poll said 51 percent of those surveyed thought Biden won the debate, while 36 percent thought Palin won.

Josh Curtis, president of the Berkeley College Republicans, said that he likes Palin because of her unique experience in Alaska and ability to rally independent voters.

"I really think that Palin proved herself in this debate. She definitely defied the negative comments that have been circulating in the media," he said.

Palin, who became the first female governor of Alaska in 2006, has drawn criticism in recent weeks for what some say were weak responses given during TV interviews with Katie Couric and Charles Gibson. She has also been the target of parody skits on NBC's "Saturday Night Live."

However, freshman Pegah Zardoost, an Obama supporter, said that the debate showcased Biden's best qualities. Biden has been in the Senate since 1972, representing the state of Delaware.

"This debate just reaffirmed Biden's knowledge, intellect and years of experience in the Senate," she said. "I was excited to see Biden completely outdo her."

In 1984, nearly 57 million viewers tuned in for a vice presidential nominee debate between George H. W. Bush and Geraldine Ferraro, the first woman to ever be picked as a

running mate for a major party's ticket.

The debate last night was also widely watched across the nation. Political science professor Jack Citrin attributed its popularity to the attention surrounding McCain's running mate.

"The interest (in) Sarah Palin is what is getting people to watch this debate, really," he said.

Tags: JOE BIDEN, SARAH PALIN, ELECTIONS 2008, NATIONAL ELECTIONS 2008